A Michigan restaurant owner faced a judge in U.S. immigration court in Detroit Tuesday afternoon, Local 4's Defenders Investigator Karen Drew reported.

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Lawyer, Family Shocked By Allegations Against Restaurant Owner

Homeland security officials say Ibrahim Parlak has past connections to a terrorist organization and is a threat to national security, but his supporters are shocked by the allegations.

"The mere fact that Ibrahim is even in these proceedings is a set back to the American system of justice," said Noel Saleh, Parlak's attorney.

Parlak, a father of a 7-year-old girl, has lived in the United States for 14 years. He runs the Café Gulistan restaurant on Red Arrow Highway in Harbert, Mich., Local 4 reported.

Parlak (pictured, left) is a Kurdish native of Turkey. He's accused of having connections with what's now a Kurdish terrorist organization known as the Kurdistan Workers' Party or PKK, the station reported.

In the late '80s, Parlak fought for Kurdish rights and ended up in prison in Turkey. He was granted political asylum by the United States after his release, but now authorities are revisiting his case.

Family and friends from Harbert traveled hours to show their support for Parlak at his bond hearing.

"He's a fine, fine human being, just one of the nicest human beings I've ever met," said Judy Gosh, a friend of the family.

A judge denied bond for Parlak, saying that he was a flight risk.

A hearing on the evidence against Parlak will be held next Tuesday.