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Arthur Jemmy on likely facing deportation: "Hopefully Trump can change his heart." Jemmy is taking sanctuary at the Reformed Church. Steph Solis/Staff Video

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents went after multiple Indonesian Christians Thursday morning in New Jersey, detaining two Indonesian nationals who lack legal status, advocates say.

ICE agents arrested Gunawan Liem of Piscataway and Roby Sanger of Metuchen at their houses around 8 a.m. Thursday morning, said the Rev. Seth Kaper Dale of the Reformed Highland Church and the Deportation and Immigration Response Equipo (DIRE). 

"It looked like it happened simultaneously," Kaper-Dale told a Press reporter, "That way people wouldn't call (and warn) each other."

ICE agents also went to the house of Harry Pangamanan, an Indonesian Christian who has rebuilt more than 200 homes destroyed by superstorm Sandy. Pangamanan, who lives in Highland Park, has permission from ICE to remain in the country temporarily, known as a "stay of removal."

"ICE decides that they want to take the guy that just won the MLK award for repairing 209 houses during Hurricane Sandy and assault and threaten him," Kaper-Dale said during a Facebook Live video.

RELATED: Nearly deported man helps Sandy victims rebuild

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It is unclear whether Pangamanan was home when ICE knocked, but he did not answer the door. Kaper-Dale says Pangamanan is seeking sanctuary at the Reformed Church of Highland Park.

These men are part of a community of Indonesian Christians in Central Jersey who fled religious persecution from their home country of Indonesia, a Muslim-majority nation. Most overstayed their visas. They could have qualified for asylum when they first arrived in the United States, but some came here shortly before or after the rules surrounding asylum petitions changed. The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 requires that potential asylees apply for protections within a year of entering the country.

Many local Indonesians said they were not aware of the requirement until much later. Some who arrived before the 1996 law took effect, such as Yohanes Tasik, say they wanted to gain legal status but could not afford to do so. Liem, Sanger and Pangamanan have U.S.-born children, approximately from ages 10 to 15, Kaper-Dale said. 

They join Tasik and another couple, Arthur Jemmy and Silfia Tobing, in claiming sanctuary at the Reformed Church of Highland Park. 

Indonesian couple fearing deportation take sanctuary in NJ church
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Arthur Jemmy who with his wife Silfia Tobing were
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Arthur Jemmy who with his wife Silfia Tobing were offered sanctuary at their Reformed Church of Highland Park , the church believing that special circumstances call for Arthur and Silfia to get ongoing prosecutorial discretion extended to them. October 10, 2017. Highland Park, New Jersey  Bob Karp/Staff Photographer
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A 'Wall to break down Walls' at the Reformed Church
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A 'Wall to break down Walls' at the Reformed Church of Highland Park (RCHP) where the public is invited to take a pen and paper write prayers and insert their prayers into the wall. October 10, 2017. Highland Park , New Jersey   Bob Karp/Staff Photographer
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A 'Wall to break down Walls' at the Reformed Church
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A 'Wall to break down Walls' at the Reformed Church of Highland Park (RCHP) where the public is invited to take a pen and paper write prayers and insert their prayers into the wall. October 10, 2017. Highland Park , New Jersey  Bob Karp/Staff Photographer
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Rev. Seth Kaper-Dale of the Reformed Church of Highland
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Rev. Seth Kaper-Dale of the Reformed Church of Highland Park sets up Sanctuary banners before Arthur Jemmy and his wife Silfia Tobing, active members of the congregation were offered sanctuary, the church believing that special circumstances call for Arthur and Silfia to get ongoing prosecutorial discretion extended to them. October 10, 2017. Highland Park, New Jersey   Bob Karp/Staff Photographer
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Rev. Seth Kaper-Dale of the Reformed Church of Highland
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Rev. Seth Kaper-Dale of the Reformed Church of Highland Park speaks as Arthur Jemmy and his wife Silfia Tobing, active members of the congregation were offered sanctuary, the church believing that special circumstances call for Arthur and Silfia to get ongoing prosecutorial discretion extended to them. October 10, 2017. Highland Park, New Jersey   Bob Karp/Staff Photographer
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Arthur and Silfia are active members of a local congregation
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Arthur and Silfia are active members of a local congregation and are well known to the Reformed Church of Highland Park (RCHP) as they were in sanctuary here for nearly 1 year during 2012-2013. Today, again, The Reformed Church of Highland Park, with the support and collaboration of Interfaith community group DIRE (Deportation and Immigration Response Equipo) is offering sanctuary to Arthur and Silfia, believing that special circumstances call for Arthur and Silfia to get ongoing prosecutorial discretion extended to them. October 10, 2017. Highland Park, New Jersey  Bob Karp/Staff Photographer
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Rev. Seth Kaper-Dale of the Reformed Church of Highland
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Rev. Seth Kaper-Dale of the Reformed Church of Highland Park speaks as Arthur Jemmy and his wife Silfia Tobing, active members of the congregation were offered sanctuary, the church believing that special circumstances call for Arthur and Silfia to get ongoing prosecutorial discretion extended to them. October 10, 2017. Highland Park, New Jersey   Bob Karp/Staff Photographer
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Rev. Seth Kaper-Dale of the Reformed Church of Highland
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Rev. Seth Kaper-Dale of the Reformed Church of Highland Park speaks as Arthur Jemmy and his wife Silfia Tobing, active members of the congregation were offered sanctuary, the church believing that special circumstances call for Arthur and Silfia to get ongoing prosecutorial discretion extended to them. October 10, 2017. Highland Park, New Jersey   Bob Karp/Staff Photographer
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Arthur Jemmy who with his wife Silfia Tobing were
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Arthur Jemmy who with his wife Silfia Tobing were offered sanctuary at their Reformed Church of Highland Park , the church believing that special circumstances call for Arthur and Silfia to get ongoing prosecutorial discretion extended to them. October 10, 2017. Highland Park, New Jersey   Bob Karp/Staff Photographer
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Arthur Jemmy who with his wife Silfia Tobing were
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Arthur Jemmy who with his wife Silfia Tobing were offered sanctuary at their Reformed Church of Highland Park , the church believing that special circumstances call for Arthur and Silfia to get ongoing prosecutorial discretion extended to them. October 10, 2017. Highland Park, New Jersey   Bob Karp/Staff Photographer
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Arthur and Silfia are active members of a local congregation
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Arthur and Silfia are active members of a local congregation and are well known to the Reformed Church of Highland Park (RCHP) as they were in sanctuary here for nearly 1 year during 2012-2013. Today, again, The Reformed Church of Highland Park, with the support and collaboration of Interfaith community group DIRE (Deportation and Immigration Response Equipo) is offering sanctuary to Arthur and Silfia, believing that special circumstances call for Arthur and Silfia to get ongoing prosecutorial discretion extended to them. October 10, 2017. Highland Park, New Jersey  Bob Karp/Staff Photographer
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Arthur Jemmy who with his wife Silfia Tobing were
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Arthur Jemmy who with his wife Silfia Tobing were offered sanctuary at their Reformed Church of Highland Park , the church believing that special circumstances call for Arthur and Silfia to get ongoing prosecutorial discretion extended to them. October 10, 2017. Highland Park, New Jersey   Bob Karp/Staff Photographer
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Arthur and Silfia are active members of a local congregation
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Arthur and Silfia are active members of a local congregation and are well known to the Reformed Church of Highland Park (RCHP) as they were in sanctuary here for nearly 1 year during 2012-2013. Today, again, The Reformed Church of Highland Park, with the support and collaboration of Interfaith community group DIRE (Deportation and Immigration Response Equipo) is offering sanctuary to Arthur and Silfia, believing that special circumstances call for Arthur and Silfia to get ongoing prosecutorial discretion extended to them. October 10, 2017. Highland Park, New Jersey  Bob Karp/Staff Photographer
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Rev. Seth Kaper-Dale, l, of the Reformed Church of
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Rev. Seth Kaper-Dale, l, of the Reformed Church of Highland Park speaks as Arthur Jemmy and his wife Silfia Tobing, active members of the congregation were offered sanctuary, the church believing that special circumstances call for Arthur and Silfia to get ongoing prosecutorial discretion extended to them. October 10, 2017. Highland Park, New Jersey   Bob Karp/Staff Photographer
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Wendy Jager, member of the Reformed Church of Highland
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Wendy Jager, member of the Reformed Church of Highland Park puts her arm around Silfia Tobing as they walk into the church. Silfia and husband Arthur Jemmy, active members of the congregation were offered sanctuary, the church believing that special circumstances call for Arthur and Silfia to get ongoing prosecutorial discretion extended to them. October 10, 2017. Highland Park, New Jersey   Bob Karp/Staff Photographer
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Arthur and Silfia are active members of a local congregation
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Arthur and Silfia are active members of a local congregation and are well known to the Reformed Church of Highland Park (RCHP) as they were in sanctuary here for nearly 1 year during 2012-2013. Today, again, The Reformed Church of Highland Park, with the support and collaboration of Interfaith community group DIRE (Deportation and Immigration Response Equipo) is offering sanctuary to Arthur and Silfia, believing that special circumstances call for Arthur and Silfia to get ongoing prosecutorial discretion extended to them. October 10, 2017. Highland Park, New Jersey  Bob Karp/Staff Photographer
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Walter Herres of Edison helps to build a bed in a converted
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Walter Herres of Edison helps to build a bed in a converted classroom in the Reformed Church of Highland Park. It will be the new temporary home for Arthur Jemmy and his wife Silfia Tobing, active members of the congregation who were offered sanctuary, the church believing that special circumstances call for Arthur and Silfia to get ongoing prosecutorial discretion extended to them. October 10, 2017. Highland Park, New Jersey   Bob Karp/Staff Photographer
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    Jemmy and Tobing took sanctuary in October after ICE asked them to come in before their regularly scheduled check-in.

    Tasik took sanctuary earlier this month after ICE came to his house. He told a Press reporter the agents tried to separate him from his daughter and take her to the mother's house so he could be detained. Tasik believed the agents intended to deport him.

    At least seven local Indonesians without legal status have been deported. Four others self-deported for fear of being detained. Before Liem and Sanger's arrest, another had been detained and remains in ICE custody, Kaper-Dale said.

     

    These immigrants were not labeled targets for deportation under the Obama administration, but that changed after a Jan. 25, 2017 executive order by President Donald Trump that makes all unauthorized immigrants, regardless of their situation, priority for removal. 

    This is a developing story. Check app.com for updates.

    Steph Solis: @stephmsolis; 732-403-0074; ssolis@gannett.com

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