5 Indonesian detained for overstaying in U.S.<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Five Indonesian nationals have been detained by immigration
\nauthorities in the United States for violating their visas,
\ntaking Jakarta by surprise.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian foreign ministry has ordered all representative
\noffices in the United States to make regular contact with the
\nlocal immigration and naturalization service (INS) offices to
\ndetect problems facing Indonesians. The order followed the
\ndetention of the Indonesians at INS offices in the states of New
\nJersey, Washington and California for overstaying their
\nrespective visas.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Minister for Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said
\non Friday the \"arrests\" occurred due to a lack of information and
\ncommunication between the INS offices and the Washington D.C., as
\nhe claimed that the U.S. had promised it would not take such an
\naction against Indonesian nationals.<\/p>\n
\"There must have been a miscommunication between the U.S.
\nofficials because the U.S. federal government had promised there
\nwould be no arrest or mass deportations,\" Hassan said.<\/p>\n
Antara reported on Friday that the latest Indonesian to be
\ndetained was Roy Sagala in Seattle, Washington as he was
\nregistering at his local INS office. Another three Indonesian
\ncitizens were detained in New Jersey and the other one in Los
\nAngeles, California.<\/p>\n
The U.S. recently enacted a policy that requires males above
\n16 years old from 25 countries, including Indonesia, to register
\ntheir presence in the U.S. The policy, effective since Feb. 23,
\nis part of its efforts to prevent terrorism.<\/p>\n
The policy does not apply to green card holders (permanent
\nresidents) or Indonesian diplomats.<\/p>\n
Jakarta sent a team to the U.S. to request flexibility from
\nWashington on the policy as an estimated 100,000 Indonesians
\nstay illegally in the country.<\/p>\n
The team, who visited Washington two weeks ago managed to
\nsecure a promise from the U.S. not to detain or deport
\nIndonesians, while the deadline for them to complete their
\ndocuments was extended for one month from the original schedule
\nof March 23.<\/p>\n
Hassan said he only received reports of the detention of one
\nIndonesian in Norfolk, Virginia, who was eventually released.<\/p>\n
\"The Federal government (in Washington D.C.) has guaranteed
\nthat there would be no arrest or detention of our citizens and
\nthe undocumented Indonesians would be given more time to complete
\ntheir papers,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said Washington also permitted Indonesian embassy staff to
\nbe present at the INS offices during the registration period to
\nassist Indonesian citizens.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/5-indonesian-detained-for-overstaying-in-us-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}