WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) released a statement on Thursday after an immigration court granted New Fairfield resident Joel Colindres a stay of deportation. The stay allows Colindres to remain in the country while the court considers new evidence in his case. Joel has no criminal record and is married to an American citizen. He and his wife have two American-born children, ages six and two.

"I’m relieved for Joel, his wife Samantha, and their two little kids. My office has been in close contact with the Colindres family and their attorney, and we’re going to keep working with ICE to make sure Joel can stay here at home in Connecticut,” said Murphy. “The Trump administration has been targeting families like the Colindres, and it’s an abomination. President Trump must put an end to these costly, mean-spirited policies.”

Last month, Murphy, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and U.S. Representative Elizabeth Esty (CT-5) sent a letter to ICE and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officials urging them to reconsider the deportation order issued for Colindres.