"An Indonesian citizen in San Francisco has been deported,” the ministry’s director of protection of Indonesian citizens and legal entities, Judha Nugraha, stated at a media briefing here on Thursday (March 6).
In addition to the deportee, three other Indonesians in Atlanta, Georgia, and New York were arrested by the US authorities.
Judha said the three are still undergoing legal proceedings at their respective locations.
He remarked that the two Indonesian citizens in Atlanta would undergo their trial on March 12.
He further elaborated that if an Indonesian citizen is sentenced to deportation, his/her name will be added to the list of subjects of interest by Indonesian immigration. Consequently, the person concerned will be investigated further if he/she wants to apply for a new passport or permit to go abroad.
Based on the data from the Indonesian embassy and consulates in the US, as of November 24, 2024, some 4,276 Indonesian citizens are listed on the final order of removal list of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Judha noted that those on the list would likely be deported from the US.
He explained that Indonesian citizens on the ICE list were known to not possess complete documents to reside legally in the US, yet they had not been arrested or detained. They are also required to report regularly to the ICE office.
Acknowledging the increasingly harsh action against immigrants in the US under Trump’s administration, Judha appealed to Indonesian citizens in the US to familiarize themselves with their legal rights in case of detention.
Judha emphasized that these rights encompass the right to have consular access and to contact Indonesian government representatives, the right to be accompanied by a lawyer, and the right to remain silent unless a lawyer is present.
Recently, US President Donald Trump announced immigration regulations targeting undocumented immigrants, saying they will be immediately deported or face significant criminal penalties if caught by immigration authorities.
The president emphasized that the US border is now “closed to all illegal immigrants.”
The Trump administration has prioritized rapid deportations and increased prosecutions as part of the efforts to curb illegal immigration.
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Translator: Nabil Ihsan, Yashinta Difa
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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