Importance Score: 65 / 100 🔴
Indonesian Father Detained in Minnesota Immigration Case Despite Humanitarian Concerns
In Minnesota, an Indonesian father of a child with special needs faces ongoing immigration detention after federal agents apprehended him at his hospital workplace. The detention follows a secret visa revocation, and despite pleas for humanitarian consideration, an immigration judge has ruled that his case will proceed. Aditya Wahyu Harsono, 33, was taken into custody by federal authorities days after his student visa was unexpectedly cancelled.
Judge Denies Motion to Dismiss
Immigration Judge Sarah Mazzie rejected a motion to dismiss Aditya Wahyu Harsono’s case on humanitarian grounds, according to his legal representative. Harsono’s attorney, Sarah Gad, stated that her client was taken into custody four days after his visa was rescinded without prior notification. His next court appearance is scheduled for May 1st.
Attorney Condemns DHS Tactics
Gad expressed strong concerns about the handling of the case. “His wife is experiencing extreme distress and exhaustion,” Gad stated. She further accused the Department of Homeland Security of misusing the immigration system, asserting it was “weaponized… to instill fear.”
Workplace Arrest at Minnesota Hospital
Harsono, employed as a supply-chain manager at a hospital in Marshall, Minnesota, and married to a U.S. citizen, was unexpectedly confronted by agents at his workplace on March 27th. Gad reported that Harsono was detained without a clear justification and subjected to hours of questioning.
Details of Apprehension Emerge
Peyton, Harsono’s wife, contacted Gad in distress after receiving a call from hospital human resources. According to Gad, two Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, in civilian attire, instructed hospital staff to fabricate a meeting in the basement to facilitate Harsono’s apprehension. Hospital personnel, although uneasy, reportedly felt compelled to cooperate.
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Account of Detention
“He enters unsuspectingly, with a smile, and then they abruptly produce handcuffs and forcibly detain him,” Gad recounted, “pushing him against a wall, and initiating a search, confiscating all his personal items.”
Visa Revocation and Prior Conviction
Harsono informed ICE agents that his F-1 student visa remained valid until June 2026 and that he had a pending green card application due to his marriage. He also acknowledged receiving a notice to appear in court for allegedly overstaying his visa.
His attorney clarified that on March 28th, the day following the arrest, Harsono’s F-1 visa was still listed as active. Gad stated that the government revoked the visa retroactively to March 23rd, alleging it was due to a 2022 misdemeanor conviction for graffiti. Gad argued this offense does not typically warrant deportation under the Immigration and Nationality Act. Harsono had traveled internationally and returned to the U.S. multiple times without issue since the conviction.
Additional Allegations and Social Media Activity
The Department of Homeland Security disclosed further evidence against Harsono the day before his bond hearing. In addition to the graffiti conviction, they cited a dismissed 2021 arrest during a protest related to the death of George Floyd.
Harsono’s support for humanitarian aid for Gaza and his operation of a small non-profit that donates proceeds to organizations assisting Gaza were also noted.
Bond Granted, then Appealed
Gad emphasized the distress of Harsono’s wife and eight-month-old daughter, who has special needs. Although a judge initially granted Harsono a $5,000 bond on April 10th, the Department of Homeland Security immediately appealed, triggering an automatic stay, thus keeping Harsono in detention. Gad described such appeals in bond cases for minor convictions as highly unusual.
“Initiating stays on an immigration judge’s bond order for a minor offense, especially when the individual is in the process of obtaining a green card, is extremely rare,” she asserted.
Legal Challenges and Family Hardship
Gad is preparing to file a federal petition and a temporary restraining order against DHS.
In a GoFundMe appeal, Harsono’s wife detailed the financial strain on their family, stating that Harsono was terminated from his job due to his detention and that they are “in danger of losing our apartment” and “no longer have health insurance.”
Nurses Association Condemns Arrest
The Minnesota Nurses Association voiced strong disapproval of the hospital worker’s arrest. They reiterated their stance that “nurses should not and will not serve any role in immigration enforcement” and expressed hope that all hospital employees would refuse to assist ICE.
Broader Context of Student Visa Revocations
Harsono’s case is part of a larger trend of student visa revocations under current executive policy. Government actions to terminate students’ legal status have placed numerous scholars at risk of detention and deportation. Reports indicate at least 901 students across 128 institutions have experienced visa revocations or legal status terminations recently.
While some high-profile visa revocation cases have involved allegations of antisemitism related to pro-Palestinian activism, colleges indicate that the majority of affected students are not connected to protests.