COVID-19 IMPACTS ON IMMIGRATION DETENTION: GLOBAL RESPONSES BEYOND DETENTION LONGER WAIT, LONGER UNCERTAINTIES Although under a less onerous regime, immigration still governs refugees outside of institutions, even during the pandemic.17 As Antje Missbach noted, while refugees in Indonesia are not detained, the alternative forms of detention do not nullify the containment of refugees.18 The restriction of freedom is also evident in the enforcement of immigration policies toward all facets of refugees’ lives, particularly limitations on sustenance-seeking activities. Ironically, as economic activities are slowing down during the pandemic, immigration officials’ scrutiny over refugees’ livelihood has also decreased. The situation is worsened with curtailed refugee status processing and resettlement due to the pandemic. UNHCR Indonesia’s June 2020 statistics showed a significant decrease (67%) of newly registered cases compared to June 2019. The decrease possibly indicates a slower case registration process due to the pandemic. While the correlation between the registration process and COVID-19 warrants further explanation from the respective agency, the delays in resettlement have been more apparent. IOM and UNHCR announced the temporary suspension of resettlement in March 2020. 25 Compounded with the COVID-19 pandemic, the prolonged stay will undoubtedly continue to strain the refugee community in Indonesia. In this period of insecurity, the disjunction between immigration enforcement and Indonesia’s efforts to ensure refugees’ health and wellbeing becomes all the more apparent. Despite the fact that half of Indonesia’s refugee population settled in the Greater Jakarta area, one of the most impacted regions in Indonesia, refugees are still struggling to access COVID-19 tests. In a recent interview with Mozhgan Moaref, a human rights and refugee advocate, she expressed the refugee community’s concerns over the inability to self-isolate and personally pay for COVID-19 tests.19 “We have always been in lockdown” she said, lamenting over the restrictive living conditions for refugees in Indonesia, far before the pandemic started. IOM stated their engagement with the national authorities to ensure COVID-19 services are available for foreign nationals, including refugees. 20 National regulation also stated that COVID-19 related healthcare expenses for patients are covered by the government. However, the coverage only applies to positive cases while the suspected cases, those who were in contact with positive ones, should cover the cost for their own tests. 21 To provide a better picture, the PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test in Indonesia costs around one to two million Rupiah (70 to 140 USD), almost half the monthly minimum wage in Jakarta. 22 Moreover, social assistance schemes to buffer the impact of economic downturns limit the assistance to people registered in the national social welfare database, excluding refugees and asylum seekers. 2324 SUMMARY Indonesia is in a relatively better situation than many other countries as it ended immigration detention in practice before the pandemic – so does not have clusters in detention centers. However, the COVID-19 pandemic laid bare the shortcomings of Indonesia’s alternatives to detention, especially for asylum seekers and refugees. The Government of Indonesia and related stakeholders should work in cultivating access to decent livelihoods, housing, and basic services for refugees not only to survive, but also sustain their lives. In the end, it is not only the absence of restrictions that define freedom but also the availability of options. SHAILA TIEKEN SUAKA 17 https://faktualnews.co/2020/08/28/petugas-rudenim-sidak-penampungan-imigran-di-sidoarjo/230873/ 18 Missbach, A. (2017) 19 Mozhgan Moaref interview with Dr. Sal Clark, Swinburne University of Technology, in 10 September 2020. https://youtu.be/AHysFJcOwmw 20 https://www.iom.int/news/iom-ramps-response-covid-19-pandemic-refugees-indonesia 21 Minister of Health instruction HK.02.01/MENKES/295/2020, 24 April 2020 22 https://en.antaranews.com/news/135764/jakarta-sets-provincial-minimum-wage-for-2020 23 Minister of Social Affairs decision 54/HUK/2020, 16 April 2020 24 In a June meeting with the COVID-19 national cluster for vulnerable population that SUAKA attended, the government pledged the commitment to include asylum seekers and refugees as vulnerable group. However, there is no apparent changes to date. 25 https://www.unhcr.org/news/press/2020/3/5e7103034/iom-unhcr-announce-temporary-suspension-resettlement-travel-refugees.html 30 International Detention Coalition and Western Sydney University