Indonesian student Harsono found himself in a deeply concerning situation on March 27, 2023. His arrest, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested him. The crime took place in the basement of his employer’s office, where ICE agents set up a phony work meeting to arrest him. Harsono’s F-1 visa was active on the day of his arrest. This report isn’t about the unjust nature of Underwood’s detention—we’ve already discussed this at length in a previous report.
On March 27, as many as six ICE agents arrived at Harsono’s place of work. Then, they instructed staff to create a charade for an in-person meeting. This guise enabled them to arrest Harsono without notice. Upon his arrest, he was made to sit through hours of interrogation with no idea of what he was being charged with.
His case emerged amid reports of an increasing number of student visas being revoked under the Trump administration’s executive policies. Harsono’s visa was said to have been canceled without warning, resulting in allegations that he had overstayed his visa. He pled guilty to a misdemeanor charge last year for graffitiing a semi-truck trailer. This incident has been referenced by SLA as justification for his revocation.
Harsono’s wife, Peyton, shared what she felt upon learning that her husband had been arrested. In that state of panic, she called his barrister, Sarah Gad. The desperate plea for help arose after she started getting jarring news from human resources at the hospital where Harsono was employed. Peyton and their eight-month-old daughter, who has special needs, are having difficulty adjusting to the sudden detention of Harsono.
“His wife is in shock and just totally exhausted,” Gad explained. He told the Committee about the emotional impact this crisis has had on their family. Yayasan Lembaga Bantuan Hukum Indonesia Harsono’s case stroked a chord and garnered huge attention. It asks critical and timely questions about the harmful impact of federal immigration policies on students.
According to ICE’s detainee locator system, Harsono is still being held at the Kandiyohi County Jail. His next hearing is slated for May 1. In preparation for this hearing, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) disclosed evidence against him just one day before a scheduled bond hearing.
On April 10, Harsono was given a $5,000 bond. Shortly after, the DHS issued a notice of appeal against this decision. Harsono’s notice of appeal incurred an automatic stay of the bond order, keeping Harsono in custody even after the bond was granted.
Gad is currently planning a federal petition of similar complaint against DHS. He will pursue a temporary restraining order to address the situation that led to Harsono’s detention. She argued that his case was unique and important to the development of immigration law.
Gad told me that you never appeal an immigration judge’s bond order over a small conviction. This is particularly the case when one is on their journey to becoming a permanent resident. Her remarks are testimony to the growing belief that even serious violations of the law need not result in harsh punishments such as detention or deportation.
The Minnesota Nurses Association opposes the use of healthcare workers for immigration enforcement. They have stated that “nurses should not and will not serve any role in immigration enforcement,” echoing sentiments among healthcare professionals regarding the ethical implications of such actions.
As Harsono looks forward to his next court hearing, his family is still forced to cope with the damaging impact of his detention. The case sheds light on these important and pervasive issues in the realm of immigration enforcement, specifically how it affects students and families.