By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Aditya Wahyu Harsono, a Minnesota hospital worker and father of an infant with special needs, was arrested and detained by ICE agents after his student visa was retroactively revoked without notice. His subsequent motion to dismiss was denied, despite his wife being a US citizen and his having a pending green card application. The revocation was based on a past misdemeanor conviction and allegedly linked to his pro-Palestinian activism, prompting concerns about weaponization of the immigration system. Harsono remains in custody, facing potential deportation and financial ruin for his family, with his attorney planning further legal action.
Read the original article here
The Indonesian student, Harsono, found himself unexpectedly detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after his US visa was secretly revoked. The revocation, backdated to March 23rd, came as a complete surprise, with Harsono and his attorney confirming his F-1 visa was still active as late as March 28th, the day after his arrest. This clandestine action allowed ICE to claim Harsono had overstayed his visa, a charge directly linked to the undisclosed revocation.
The manner of his arrest further compounds the disturbing nature of this event. Two plainclothes ICE agents orchestrated a deceptive plan, instructing hospital staff to arrange a fake meeting in the basement where Harsono worked. This staged encounter allowed for his unsuspecting apprehension, with agents handcuffing him, frisking him, and taking his belongings. The hospital staff, though visibly distraught, felt compelled to cooperate with ICE’s demands. This incident paints a chilling picture of the lengths ICE is willing to go to in order to detain individuals.
Harsono’s wife, Peyton, was understandably panicked by the events, describing the arrest as forceful and violating. His attorney, Sarah Gad, expressed outrage at the Department of Homeland Security’s actions, stating that they had weaponized the immigration system to instill fear. The situation highlights the devastating impact of such clandestine actions on the individuals directly involved and their families. Harsono’s wife and child are left to grapple with the emotional and logistical ramifications of his detention.
The alleged basis for the visa revocation is a 2022 misdemeanor conviction for graffitiing a semi-truck trailer. This seemingly minor offense was used to justify the revocation and subsequent detention, raising serious questions about the proportionality and fairness of such actions. It also casts doubt on the motives behind the secret revocation. Was the timing intentional? Was this a case of targeting an individual for reasons beyond the stated offense?
The incident raises concerns about due process and the potential for abuse of power. The backdating of the visa revocation is particularly troubling, presenting a clear case of procedural impropriety. The lack of notification before the revocation is a further violation of standard procedure and basic fairness. Harsono’s situation illustrates a disturbing pattern of targeting individuals based on minor infractions, subsequently revoking their visas without notice, and utilizing deceptive tactics to facilitate their arrest. This method circumvents the usual channels of legal process and severely compromises the rights of those targeted.
The events surrounding Harsono’s arrest also brought to light the complicity of the hospital staff. Their forced cooperation with ICE raises questions about the pressure exerted on employers to comply with ICE requests. The episode serves as a stark warning to other international students and workers regarding the potential risks involved in working in the US under the current climate.
Beyond Harsono’s specific case, the wider implications are alarming. Many expressed concerns about the increasing trend of ICE targeting foreign visa holders with even minor past infractions. This suggests a broader agenda to rid the country of foreign nationals, regardless of their legal status or contributions to society. This is seen as a potential form of racial targeting, coupled with the arbitrary and cruel manner in which the arrest was carried out. The lack of due process raises significant constitutional concerns, questioning the legality and morality of these actions. Commentators have described ICE’s actions as “Nazi Gestapo” tactics, highlighting the extreme nature of the actions.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage and calls for action, with many advocating for reform of the immigration system and greater protection for international students and workers. The lack of transparency and due process in this case has understandably fueled deep anger and mistrust in the government’s handling of immigration matters, particularly the Trump administration’s approach to immigration. The long-term effects on Harsono’s family and the wider community are yet to be seen, but the deep-seated concerns regarding due process, transparency, and potential bias remain. This case serves as a cautionary tale of the potential pitfalls faced by international students and the urgent need for reform within the immigration system.