WASHINGTON – The United Nations has confirmed the release of John Solecki, the head of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and native of Demarest, New Jersey who was being held captive by an extremist group in Pakistan.

US Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, worked with the Solecki family during this ordeal and was in touch with the Pakistani ambassador through his position on the committee. Today, he released the following statement:

“First and foremost, this is a beautiful day for John Solecki and his family in New Jersey, and I am thrilled for them. In working on behalf of the Solecki family, it was evident that John has a strong and loving family back here at home, and it is absolutely wonderful that they will be reunited.

”This harrowing episode is another reminder that there are militant groups in our world who seek to destroy freedom. John is doing terrific work for some of the most helpless people on Earth, and to target him is a sign of an extreme and disturbed group. Organizations like the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees are helping make this a freer, more peaceful world – the type of work that can one day help make militant organizations like the one that detained John obsolete.”