Eight Idahoans arrested in Haiti
MERIDIAN, Idaho – A rescue mission abruptly ended Saturday morning at the Haiti-Dominican Republic border as eight Idahoans were detained for illegal trafficking of children.
They were part of the New Life Children's Refuge, which was founded more than a year ago by members of the Central Valley Baptist Church with a mission to help orphans in Haiti. After the earthquake they sent 10 volunteers to help transport homeless children to a new orphanage in the Dominican Republic.
Church leader and pastor Clint Henry said the group had thought all their required paperwork had been submitted and approved. However when the group tried to cross the border they were detained and the children were stranded once again.
"It probably comes down to paper work and we believed that we had done everything we needed to do but they're saying that something else needed to happen," Henry said. "I know there has been illegal activity down there and it's unfortunate that we would be associated with that.
"Our hope would be that this situation could be settled tomorrow," Henry said, "but we've been trying to bring those children out for days and days and days so I don't know what to say other than God is in control and he's got it figured out and we're just trusting him right now."
Co-founder of the New Life Children's Refuge, 24-year-old Charisa Coulter, first told her dad Mel that the group had been arrested via text message around 1 p.m. Saturday.
Mel Coulter initially called Idaho Senator Mike Crapo and the U.S. State Department asking for help ensuring the safety of his daughter and the team in Haiti. He said his daughter Charisa has diabetes, and he feared without help from the U.S. government she could die.
Late Saturday Mel received a call from the State Department telling him the group was safe, had food and water and that his daughter had the medicine she needed.
Another family member of a detained Idahoan is Sean Lankford. He also is a member of the Central Valley Baptist and said he can't believe the rescue team is being grouped in with criminal child-slave traffickers.
"It really is shocking because it really is a rescue mission for these children," Lankford said. "They're really hoping to save the lives of children."
The latest from the U.S. State Department is that a Haitian judge has been assigned to the case. However, that judge will not hear the charges until Monday at the earliest.
Mel Coulter said officials with the U.S. Department of State are working on obtaining legal defense for the 10 Idahoans.
They were part of the New Life Children's Refuge, which was founded more than a year ago by members of the Central Valley Baptist Church with a mission to help orphans in Haiti. After the earthquake they sent 10 volunteers to help transport homeless children to a new orphanage in the Dominican Republic.
Church leader and pastor Clint Henry said the group had thought all their required paperwork had been submitted and approved. However when the group tried to cross the border they were detained and the children were stranded once again.
"It probably comes down to paper work and we believed that we had done everything we needed to do but they're saying that something else needed to happen," Henry said. "I know there has been illegal activity down there and it's unfortunate that we would be associated with that.
"Our hope would be that this situation could be settled tomorrow," Henry said, "but we've been trying to bring those children out for days and days and days so I don't know what to say other than God is in control and he's got it figured out and we're just trusting him right now."
Co-founder of the New Life Children's Refuge, 24-year-old Charisa Coulter, first told her dad Mel that the group had been arrested via text message around 1 p.m. Saturday.
Mel Coulter initially called Idaho Senator Mike Crapo and the U.S. State Department asking for help ensuring the safety of his daughter and the team in Haiti. He said his daughter Charisa has diabetes, and he feared without help from the U.S. government she could die.
Late Saturday Mel received a call from the State Department telling him the group was safe, had food and water and that his daughter had the medicine she needed.
Another family member of a detained Idahoan is Sean Lankford. He also is a member of the Central Valley Baptist and said he can't believe the rescue team is being grouped in with criminal child-slave traffickers.
"It really is shocking because it really is a rescue mission for these children," Lankford said. "They're really hoping to save the lives of children."
The latest from the U.S. State Department is that a Haitian judge has been assigned to the case. However, that judge will not hear the charges until Monday at the earliest.
Mel Coulter said officials with the U.S. Department of State are working on obtaining legal defense for the 10 Idahoans.
Learn about changes coming to commenting