Shaheen Statement Following the Detention of Members of the Indonesian Community by Immigration Officials

**Senator Shaheen has called top Trump administration officials to find a solution that allows these Indonesians to stay in New Hampshire** 

**Since 2009, Senator Shaheen’s office has worked with ICE and members of this community, who fled religious persecution, to provide safe haven in New Hampshire**

(Washington, DC)—U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) issued the following statement after members of New Hampshire’s Indonesian community, who came to New Hampshire fleeing religious persecution, were detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials following orders to prepare for deportation.

“While I greatly appreciate that several Indonesian families have had their deportation orders postponed today, I remain tremendously concerned for those individuals who were taken into custody,” said Shaheen. “The Indonesian community has learned our language, found employment, raised their families and become integral members of our Granite State family. Deporting these individuals is needless and disruptive to our communities. Throughout our state’s history, New Hampshire has provided safe haven to those seeking religious freedom and that must continue. I am in contact with senior officials in the Trump administration and am urging them to find a solution that honors our values and allows these families to remain in New Hampshire.”    

In 2012, Senator Shaheen’s office helped negotiate an agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to allow these Indonesians to remain in New Hampshire and obtain work permits in exchange for a commitment to regularly check-in with ICE. This agreement was recently reversed by ICE and these individuals were ordered to begin making preparations for deportation.  

In recent days, Senator Shaheen has called senior officials in the Trump administration on behalf of these individuals, including the Acting Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke and Deputy National Security Advisor Dina Powell.