Minnesota federal judge orders release of Indonesian man from ICE detention
A Minnesota federal judge has ordered immigration officials to release an Indonesian man, Aditya Harsono, who was detained for allegedly overstaying his student visa. Harsono, 34, was taken into custody by ICE agents at his workplace in Marshall on March 27 and has been held at the Kandiyohi County Jail in Willmar since then.
U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez ruled that Harsono’s detention was in violation of the First Amendment and ordered his immediate release. The judge stated that it was more reasonable to infer that Harsono was being detained in retaliation for his speech rather than any public safety concern.
Harsono’s attorney, Sarah Gad, confirmed that his family posted a $5,000 bond for his release within 48 hours of the court order. Harsono had previously expressed his belief that his arrest was in retaliation for his participation in protests following the death of Daunte Wright in 2021.
According to a senior Homeland Security official, Harsono entered the U.S. legally in 2015 and was arrested in October 2022 for property damage, leading to a conviction in February 2023. Harsono, who arrived in the U.S. on a student visa to study at Southwest Minnesota State University, had married an American citizen in 2023 and was in the process of obtaining a green card.
However, just days before his arrest, Harsono’s visa was revoked, leading to his detention by ICE agents. His attorney argued that his misdemeanor vandalism conviction was not a deportable offense and suggested that international students engaging in activism or expressing political views were being targeted by the government.
Harsono’s lawyers also claimed that he was targeted for his social media posts supporting causes such as “Free Palestine” and “Black Lives Matter” on his clothing line’s Instagram page. Despite the court ruling for his release, Gad did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The case highlights the complex issues surrounding immigration enforcement and free speech rights in the United States. Harsono’s release marks a victory for advocates of immigrant rights and raises questions about the government’s targeting of individuals based on their political beliefs.
