ICE Detains Student for Two Months: Retaliation for Protest Alleged

Marshall, Minnesota, became the unexpected setting for a significant legal battle involving Aditya Harsono, an Indonesian student who found himself detained by ICE for nearly two months. The arrest, which occurred in late March at Harsono's workplace, stemmed from the revocation of his student visa without his prior knowledge. Harsono, who arrived in the US in 2015 to study at Southwest Minnesota State University, maintains that his detention was a form of retaliation for his participation in protests following the 2021 police killing of Daunte Wright in Brooklyn Center. Although initially charged with unlawful assembly, a charge that was later dismissed, Harsono's case highlights concerns about due process and the potential for political targeting. In a recent interview with MPR News, Harsono expressed his relief at his release, stating, "I just want to go back to my family. I'm thankful and I just want to say thank you to everybody who helped me to get out of here." His release, ordered by federal courts on May 14th, marks a victory for those who advocate for immigrant rights and freedom of expression. Harsono's story serves as a reminder of the complexities surrounding immigration law and the importance of ensuring fair treatment for all individuals within the legal system.