US Tightens Immigration Policy, Ministry Of Foreign Affairs: Know Your Rights And Obligations

Protests against immigration policy in Los Angeles. (Twitter/@USNorthernCmd)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs asks Indonesian citizens (WNI) to know their rights and obligations if traveling abroad, including the United States, when the country tightens its immigration policy, while on the other hand it is still one of the favorites to pursue education.

Speaking in a press statement in Jakarta, the Director of Protection for Indonesian Citizens at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Judha Nugraha said that his party together with six Indonesian representatives in Pam Sam Country continued to closely monitor the existing situation related to immigration law enforcement operations by local authorities.

Six representatives in the US, namely the Indonesian Embassy in Washington, the Indonesian Consulate General in San Francisco, the Indonesian Consulate General in Los Angeles, the Indonesian Consulate General in Chicago, the Indonesian Consulate General in Houston and the Indonesian Consulate General in New York.

"On June 6, US federal authorities carried out immigration law enforcement operations in the Los Angeles area. This operation caused reactions from the public as well as demonstrations that were initially peaceful turned into riots," Judha told reporters, Thursday, June 12.

Judha said, apart from Los Angeles, demonstrations also took place in other areas such as San Francisco, New York, Chicago to Minnesota.

"From the communication carried out by representatives of Ri with the Indonesian community nodes in the US, we can convey that so far no Indonesian citizens have been victims of the riots that occurred during the demonstration process," he explained.

Regarding the immigration law enforcement operation in Los Angeles, Judha revealed that two Indonesian citizens were arrested for allegedly committing immigration violations, not because of riots.

"Indonesian citizens who were arrested during the LA immigration operation had the initials ERS and CT. They were arrested during the operation," said Judha.

"Both of them are recorded as having immigration violations and one of them also has a criminal record," he said.

"Currently, the Indonesian Consulate General in LA has been able to connect with the family, the two Indonesian citizens will receive lawyer assistance and we also continue to seek consular access to meet the two Indonesian citizens," he added.

It is known that President Trump since the campaign period has said he will tighten his immigration policy. It was implemented by announcing executive orders regarding immigration rules shortly after being sworn in on January 20.

To date, 58 Indonesian citizens have been affected by the President Trump administration's immigration policy which was implemented earlier this year, with six of them having been deported or returned to Indonesia.

According to him, in addition to providing consular assistance, Indonesian representatives also disseminate information about know your rights.

"In order for our citizens to understand in the legal system in the US, even though they face the law enforcement process, they still have protected rights in the legal system in the US. The representatives of the Republic of Indonesia will provide assistance that these rights are still fulfilled," explained Judha.

For Indonesian citizens who have a travel plan to the US, Judha appealed to enter the country with valid visas, in accordance with the designation and anticipating a stricter immigration process when arriving in Uncle Sam's country.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rolliansyah 'Roy' Soemirat, said that apart from knowing his rights, Indonesian citizens must also know what his obligations are.

"Know your responsibility, this also applies to immigration issues. When Indonesian citizens enter other countries, the smallest is the obligation to report themselves to representatives of the Republic of Indonesia. Don't just come to representatives when there is a problem. How will we help if we don't know the existence of Indonesian citizens abroad," he said on the same occasion.

Roy added that Indonesian citizens must also know obligations based on the applicable local national law

"The current US policy is different from the previous US policies. We understand that the previous data in November 2024 there were 4,276 Indonesian citizens who have entered the final order of removal, but previously no deportation process was carried out and some have even entered the final order of removal since 2009 and he is active in reporting every year to the ICE office (US Immigration and Customs Enforcement) is not doing anything but reporting and then it was recorded. But then when he reported last January yesterday, deportation was carried out," concluded Judha.