Indonesians in the U.S. Urged to Always Carry ID Cards Amid Immigration Crackdown

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Deputy Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Christiawan Nasir advised Indonesian citizens in the to carry their identification cards (ID cards) wherever they go, considering the Trump administration’s stringent immigration policy. He said the government pledged to protect its citizens residing in America.

"We have run numerous anticipatory measures, which include advising Indonesian citizens in the U.S. to always take their identification cards with them,” said Arrmanatha during a press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs office on Thursday, February 13, 2025.

Arrmanatha mentioned that Donald Trump's policy targets all non-U.S. citizens residing there, especially undocumented immigrants.

"This not only applies to Indonesian citizens but more so to citizens of other countries, especially from Latin and Central American countries," he said.

Previously, the director of Citizen Protection, Judha Nugraha, revealed thata total of 4,276 Indonesian citizens in the U.S. have been marked for . Trump’s administration's final order of removal signifies that an individual without legal permission to reside in the States must be deported.

"Based on the information received by the Indonesian representatives as of November 24, 2024, as many as 4,276 Indonesian citizens were included in the final order of removal," Judha said during a press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs office in Central Jakarta on Thursday, February 13, 2025.

The final order of removal can be issued by a country for a number of reasons, such as breaches of immigration law, criminal records, or expired permits.

Judha said the thousands of citizens included in the deportation list do not possess valid documents to stay in the U.S. and are part of the 1.4 million immigrants listed in the final order of removal.

The ministry official mentioned BK, an living in New York, who was arrested on January 28 while conducting annual reporting at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office. BK has been on the deportation list since 2009.

Another listed individual is TRN, who was arrested in Atlanta on January 29. “We have been notified about two arrested Indonesian citizens. We will keep monitoring the situation,” he said.

Judha urged the diaspora in the U.S. to remember their rights under the U.S. legal system and to report to local Indonesian representatives in the event of arrest.

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