US Arrests Indonesian Citizen Again, Government Can't Help Yet

JAKARTA, KOMPAS - The Indonesian government has not yet provided consular assistance to two Indonesian citizens who were arrested in California, United States. Nevertheless, the families have contacted a lawyer.

The Director of the Protection of Indonesian Citizens at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Judha Nugraha, stated that a woman and a man, both Indonesian citizens, were arrested in Los Angeles, California. They were apprehended in connection with a large-scale deportation in the United States.

The Indonesian Consulate General in Los Angeles continues to monitor the case. "The Consulate General in LA is still coordinating with local authorities for consular matters," he stated on Tuesday (10/6/2025).

The Consulate General of Indonesia in Los Angeles has been in communication with the families of the two Indonesian citizens. According to the families, the two individuals will be accompanied by a lawyer. "The Consulate General continues to monitor the fulfillment of the rights of the two Indonesian citizens within the legal system in the United States," said Judha.

Since last Friday, U.S. federal authorities have been arresting illegal immigrants in LA. Among those arrested are two Indonesian citizens. They are classified as illegal immigrants either because their residency permits have expired or because they entered the country illegally.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia and six Indonesian representatives in the United States continue to monitor immigration operations in the United States. The monitoring is also related to the unrest in Los Angeles since last weekend.

The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Consulate General of Indonesia in Los Angeles continue to communicate with the Indonesian citizen community in Los Angeles. California is one of the U.S. states where many Indonesian citizens reside. Some are working, continuing their education, or living with family. Therefore, Indonesia has two representations in California, namely the Consulate General in Los Angeles and the Consulate General in San Francisco.

Regarding the riots in LA, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Consulate General of Indonesia urge Indonesian citizens to avoid protest and riot locations. Indonesian citizens are advised to comply with local authorities' regulations. Communication with the Indonesian representatives in the US is expected to remain uninterrupted.

For those affected by US immigration policies, it is important to understand their rights within the US legal system. These rights include access to legal counsel and the ability to communicate with the nearest Indonesian representative from the location of the arrest.

A recommendation has also been issued to Indonesian citizens who will be visiting the United States. It is hoped that they ensure their visa documents are in order and that they engage in activities in accordance with the obtained visa. Indonesian citizens need to anticipate stricter inspections by immigration officers at U.S. airports.

Since Donald Trump returned as President of the United States, immigration policies have been tightened. The reason is that illegal and unqualified immigrants are taking jobs from American citizens. The government and the American public are said to be burdened by these illegal and unqualified immigrants.

Some of those referred to as illegal immigrants initially arrived in the United States officially. They obtained visas for business visits or study. Later on, some of them ended up working and residing beyond the permitted time limit.

Since the campaign period, Trump has promised to deport those individuals. Moreover, some of those individuals were already on the deportation list. Before Trump was inaugurated in January 2025, there were 1.4 million foreigners on the deportation list in the United States.

At the end of November 2024, there were 4,276 Indonesian citizens on that list. However, at that time, no Indonesian citizens were arrested or detained for violating immigration regulations.

Deportation orders are issued mainly for violations of immigration rules. In addition, foreigners are included in the list if they have committed a crime.

During the Trump era, the reasons for deportation have expanded. An Indonesian citizen was arrested in Minnesota for having participated in a protest a few years ago. In several other cities, many foreign nationals have also been arrested for joining protests.

For several months, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia has urged Indonesian citizens in the United States to report to the Indonesian Embassy in Washington DC or the Consulate General in five other cities. This is not only for data collection but also to anticipate any issues related to immigration.

Meanwhile, the Coordinating Ministry for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections has prepared measures in anticipation of the deportation. One of these measures is the issuance of a Travel Document in Lieu of Passport (SPLP) for Indonesian citizens who have been arrested for immigration violations. This is a precaution for Indonesian citizens who have been apprehended and no longer possess a passport.

In addition, there is a proposal to relax the passport issuance regulations in certain situations. This relaxation would facilitate the deportation process if carried out en masse.

Under the current regulations, the Embassy or Consulate General can only issue passports to Indonesian citizens with valid residency permits in the host country. However, in the United States alone, there are thousands of Indonesian citizens who do not possess valid residency permits.

The rule is expected to be changed. Anyone who is proven to be an Indonesian citizen can get a passport from the local Indonesian Embassy or Consulate General.