A large group of elected officials held a press conference after learning that five Bhutanese residents had been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Rakia Rasoli attended on behalf of our agency.

The press conference took place at 10 a.m. today, March 18, 2025, at the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg. Local and national media, along with numerous representatives from community organizations, including the ISC, participated in this significant event.

During the conference, officials expressed their solidarity with the Bhutanese community in Harrisburg. They emphasized that all five men are legal permanent residents of the United States, and some have reportedly already been transferred to out-of-state detention centers.

“The individuals detained are long-standing members of the Bhutanese refugee community resettled in Dauphin County. Despite their legal status, they were forcibly taken from their families, with some already sent to out-of-state detention facilities. Elected officials are speaking out against these actions, demanding transparency, and calling on state and federal leaders to protect all Pennsylvania residents, especially those who are lawfully residing here,” stated an official press release.

Commissioner Justin Douglas urged Dauphin County residents to contact their federal representatives and demand the immediate reunification of the five men with their families.

“Let me tell you what this is not: This is not protection. This is not justice,” Douglas declared. “This is persecution, plain and simple. And it doesn’t make us safer—it makes us smaller. We call ourselves a nation of laws and rights, yet we turn our backs on refugees who have done everything we asked of them—simply because they are different. What kind of America are we choosing to build?”

“I stand with the Bhutanese Nepali community—a community that has enriched this region through hard work, culture, family values, and faith. They deserve better than fear,” Douglas continued. “They deserve better than silence from their elected officials. They can count on me. These are my constituents, and I will fight for them.”

State Senator Patty Kim also addressed the issue, stating that she plans to bring the matter to the governor’s office. “We hope to see these five Bhutanese members of our community return home soon,” she said.