REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi has advised Indonesian nationals living in the United States to stay calm after President Trump signed on Friday an executive order that severely restricts immigration and suspends all refugee admission.

The foreign ministry called on Indonesian citizens in the US to respect the US laws and maintain public orders in their respective environment, the foreign ministry's statement said here, Sunday.

Minister Retno has instructed Indonesian representatives in Washington DC, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco to open 24-hour hotline services, to anticipate any possibility that might happen. "The Indonesian Government through Indonesia's representatives across the United States keep on monitoring the ongoing developments and will anticipate any impacts on Indonesian citizens," Lalu Muhammad Iqbal, director of protection of Indonesian citizens and legal entities, said in the statement.

Iqbal has also advised Indonesians to understand their rights in any situation, that could be found on the US Civil Liberties Union website (www.aclu.org). "This is needed because one of the important components in the executive order signed by Trump is policies on arrest and deportation of illegal immigrants who were protected during the previous administration with the presence of sanctuary policies in several cities and counties," he said.

Also read: Hundreds protest at Los Angeles international airport against Trump's "Muslim ban"

Reuters reported that President Trump on Friday put a four-month hold on allowing refugees into the United States and temporarily barred travelers from Syria and six other Muslim-majority countries, saying the moves would help protect Americans from terrorist attacks.

He said his most sweeping use of his presidential powers since taking office a week ago, barring travelers from the seven nations for at least 90 days, would give his administration time to develop more stringent screening procedures for refugees, immigrants and visitors.

"I'm establishing new vetting measures to keep radical Islamic terrorists out of the United States of America. Don't want them here," Trump said earlier on Friday at the Pentagon.

"We only want to admit those into our country who will support our country and love deeply our people," he said.

The bans, though temporary, took effect immediately, causing havoc and confusion for would-be travelers with passports from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika