Idaho's congressional delegation released a joint statement Monday on the arrests of 9 Idahoans apprehended in Haiti on abduction charges last week.  The group, on an aid mission to the earthquake-ravaged nation, is accused of trying to bus the children out of the country and into the Dominican Republic.

Here is the statement from Reps. Mike Simpson and Walt Minnick as well as Sens. Mike Crapo and Jim Risch.

“Our offices are often asked to intervene to help Idahoans and, while it is not customary to discuss any details because of constituent privacy, family members and church leadership have allowed us to comment on the situation,” delegation members said.

“We are in steady contact with the U.S. State Department and the U.S. offices in Port-au-Prince regarding the holding of the 10 Americans, many of them from Idaho.  We are working with the State Department to monitor the safety of these Idahoans and to make sure they have adequate food, water, medical care and proper housing.  We hope for their return to the United States as quickly as possible.”