Arakan News Agency
Asmotullah, an 18-year-old Rohingya refugee, cried in sadness as he was about to leave his friends behind in Indonesia to go to the United States, the land of his dreams.
He hugged them one by one at the shelter at Beraspati Hotel on Jl. Jamin Ginting, Medan, North Sumatra, where he had spent the last two years with them.
“After living together here for two years, I now have to leave for America. This is really saddening,” he told The Jakarta Post.
Asmotullah was among 10 Rohingya refugees, including a 1-year-old baby, who left the immigration detention house (Rudenim) of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Tuesday.
They left at about 1 p.m. local time on board a minibus heading to Kualanamu International Airport in Deli Serdang regency, North Sumatra, to fly to Jakarta before finally departing for the US.
Three officers from the Belawan Immigration Detention Center accompanied them to Jakarta.
The head of the center’s administration and report division, Muhammad Nasir, said that eight groups of Rohingya refugees had been sent to the US so far.
“Starting from today until May 29, more Rohingya refugees are to be sent to the US,” said Nasir, adding that he did not know the exact number going to the US.
The refugees had been concerned that their hopes of resettling in the US would be thwarted by President Donald Trump after he officially took office in January. However, despite Trump’s tough immigration policies, the first group of Rohingya refugees in Medan and Makassar were sent to the US in February.
Before the first send-off, about 800 Rohingyas were staying in Indonesia, all of whom had been granted refugee status by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Asmotullah said before leaving for the US he had undergone five interviews conducted by the US government. He said one of the questions asked during the interviews was why he had fled from his home country Myanmar.
He said he ran away from his country following the discrimination, violence and killings aimed at the minority Muslim Rohingyas in the Buddhist majority country by the Myanmar military.
“I ran away by myself, leaving behind my parents and family,” he said, adding that he joined other Rohingya heading to Indonesia.
Asmotullah expressed gratitude to the Indonesian government for letting him stay there.
He said without help from Indonesia, the refugees would have been dead a long time ago.
“I feel sad leaving Indonesia because the people here are nice. I feel very comfortable staying in Indonesia,” he said, adding that he did not yet know in which part of the US he would live.
M. Husan, another Rohingya refugee, recounted a similar story, saying his family had not been told where they would live. Still, he said he was happy about leaving for North America because they had been promised jobs.
“I am happy, although I do not yet know what work is waiting for me there,” said Husan who departed for the US with his wife and their 1-year-old baby.
He also expressed gratitude to the US government for receiving Rohingya. He said the US had been the most desired country of destination by his fellow refugees.
The US consul in Medan, Juha P. Salin, said that every Rohingya sent to the US would be given a job and possibly citizenship.
“Refugees admitted to the US receive assistance for a limited period of time with housing to adjust to living in the US and finding employment. After acquiring permanent residency in the US, refugees may be eligible to apply for US citizenship after meeting all requirements specified in the US immigration law,” Juha said.
Source : Jakarta Post
