An Indonesian national who's lived in the U.S. for 18 years has been ordered to leave the country this week.
Bobby Candra of Somersworth had been regularly reporting to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials for years after overstaying a visitor visa, his lawyers say.
But in February of last year, ICE reversed course and denied Candra a stay of removal, according to his attorneys.
Sabin Willett is one of the lawyers working on Candra's case. He argues that because Candra is the sole provider for three children under the age of 18, deporting him would infringe on the liberties of his family.
“The result of what ICE is doing will force them to drop out of the school they're in, drop out of all the relationships they have in the world and go live in Indonesia where they don't speak the language,” Willett says.
Candra has worked in the seacoast area for almost seven years and has no criminal record, his lawyers say.
“This family has deep, deep roots now in New Hampshire,” says Willett. “And there ought to be some consideration, we say, of what happens to these American citizen children when the father is uprooted for no reason.”
Willett says it's up to a U.S. District Court Judge in Massachusetts to decide if a temporary stay of removal will be granted before Candra's scheduled flight on Thursday.
