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View all search resultsIndonesian workers and students want Biden
In a nutshell, new immigration restrictions with the current election uncertainty looms fear and anxiety among Indonesian students and workers.
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s the American election cycle came to its finish line, Indonesian workers and student visa holders are biting their tongues. The 2020 president-elect is a key factor in determining the future of America’s immigration policy, which would directly affect the job security of Indonesian workers and immigration restrictions for Indonesians studying in the United States.
On top of that, violent hate crimes against Asians have surged as President Donald Trump labeled the novel coronavirus the “China virus”, which would likely continue if he stayed in the White House.
The Trump administration has made aggressive changes to US immigration policies throughout his rule. In the past six months, the administration has dramatically restricted employment-based immigration and imposed new restrictions on the student visa. As a result, many Indonesian students have left the US and opted for online learning, but for Indonesian workers this would mean losing their work permits and their chance of working in the US territory.
Almost a month before the election, Trump proposed a plan that substantially increased the wages American companies must pay foreign hires and narrowed down the eligibility criteria for applicants. Kenneth T. Cuccinelli, the acting deputy of homeland security, has estimated a cut of one-third to the number of petitions filed annually for the visa.
On the other hand, former vice president Joe Biden’s plan offers to reverse Trump’s immigration measures. Some of his plans include reforming the temporary visa system, increasing the number of visas offered for permanent or work-based immigration in accordance to market needs, and protecting foreign workers from exploitation.
According to Indonesian Students Association (Permias) data, there are roughly 4,461 Indonesian students in the US, excluding exchange students and short-course takers. Meanwhile, thousands of Indonesian H1B visa holders and other working visa holders who have worked, studied and potentially have built a family in the US are also at risk for deportation over Trump’s policies.
“Ever since the pandemic started, international students have been having a hard time. Especially when he threatened to revoke our visas if we had no on-ground classes going on to send us home. If he were to be reelected who knows what other policies he might come up with?” stated Adeline Huang, an Indonesian student studying at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)
