JAKARTA: Two Indonesian nationals were arrested during a recent wave of immigration raids in Los Angeles, the United States, the Foreign Ministry confirmed, adding that consular officials are actively coordinating with local authorities to provide assistance to the detainees.
As tensions escalate across the city, marked by ongoing protests and clashes with law enforcement, the Foreign Ministry urged Indonesian citizens residing in the area to exercise caution and avoid crowded places.
The raids, conducted by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), began late last week, targeting neighborhoods with large Latino populations such as Westlake and Paramount.
Two Indonesian citizens were arrested during these operations, namely a 53-year-old-woman identified as ESS who was detained for her undocumented status, and a 48-year-old man, CT, with a similar status and prior drug-related offenses.
The foreign ministry’s citizen protection director Judha Nugraha said on Tuesday (June 10) that it has established contact with the families of both Indonesian citizens, who told officials that they have engaged legal counsel.
“We will continue to monitor the protection of their rights under the US legal system,” Judha affirmed.
The exact number of arrests in Los Angeles since the raids began remains unclear, with estimates ranging from 40 to 60 individuals reported on Monday alone.
Nationwide, ICE claims to have arrested an average of 3,000 people daily in May.
According to DHS statements, the operation aims to apprehend “the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens,” including those with records of murder, sexual assault, theft, battery and illegal drug possession.
Protests erupted in Los Angeles on Sunday in response to the raids, drawing thousands to the streets.
Clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement have continued through Tuesday with no sign of easing.
Hundreds of protesters have been arrested so far, with the DHS condemning the protests as “defending heinous illegal alien criminals [...] at the expense of Americans’ safety”.
US President Donald Trump has authorized the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles over the weekend, actions taken without the approval of California Governor Gavin Newsom.
The military presence has further intensified the unrest, with reports of authorities using tear gas, flash grenades and other military tactics against protestors since Sunday.
On Tuesday, Trump ordered an additional 2,000 National Guard troops to be deployed to Los Angeles.
Governor Newsom condemned the move as an “abuse of power” and a “serious breach of state sovereignty” in a statement on X.
“This is a manufactured crisis. He is creating fear and terror to take over a state militia and violate the US constitution. The illegal order he signed could allow him to send the military into any state he wishes,” he further wrote.
The unrest in Los Angeles has sparked nationwide protests against the Trump administration’s immigration policies, with demonstrations reported in cities including San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, Las Vegas, Washington, New York and Boston.
The Indonesian Foreign Ministry has advised its citizens across the US to steer clear of protest sites, assuring that consular representatives remain in close contact with the Indonesian diaspora.
“Indonesian citizens affected by US immigration policies should understand their rights in the US legal system, including the right to receive legal assistance and the right to contact the nearest Indonesian Representative,” the ministry emphasized in an official statement. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
