Nathan Phillips

2015
per. 3-4
Cutler Edwards

Running from Revolution:

Indonesian Immigration to America
Along with the masses of immigrants that have come to america, Indonesians have also
brought culture and food to their new home. Pushed by economical struggles, and famine and
pulled by the power of freedom and education, Indonesians chose america as their new
settlement. Indonesian immigration spans throughout the 20th century reaching its height in the
1980s. To find the origin of these peoples migration, you need to look at what happened at home.

The desire and act of immigration to America was started among the Indonesian people in
the late 1950s. Food shortages and famines occurred during 1950s - 1960s forcing families to
search for new opportunities for themselves and their children. These famines as well as poverty
occurred more as the economy worsened. Famine acted as a major push factor for Indonesian
emigration. Famine and food shortages still occur today in Indonesia.

A second push factor for Indonesian immigration was the horrible economy under the rule
of president Sukarno, the first Indonesian president. Sukarno refused to provide the Indonesian
people with solutions to the famine and plummeting economy. Indonesians were not happy with
Sukarnos inactivity. In the late 1960s Sukarno was ousted by president Suharto due to his
failure to help the country. Things like ignoring country's demands, and supporting communist

ideas. The biggest of Sukarnos failures was his toleration of the 30 september movement, the
killing of 6 senior officers under a group that Sukarno supported.1 The public was very upset and
scared. This sealed the deal for Sukarnos impeachment. What Indonesians didnt know was that
more trouble was on the way with the 2nd president.

When Suharto took the presidential role in the mid 60s it spurred violence around the
country. Suharto ran for presidency to promote the new order, a change in government to a
military run country. This government failed to aid famine and poverty but rather created rules
and regulations to intimidate the public. Suharto next move was blaming the 30 september
movement on the communist population. He started a government communist purge which
resulted in the death of over 500,000 people.2 As more tension involving communism and
rebuilding Suhartos dream country, people (especially victims of the purges) started to look
for emigration opportunities, most choosing the U.S.

Finally in May 1998 the Indonesian people started a riot due to economic meltdown.
These riots opposed Suharto and his ideas and (communist chinese immigrants living in
Indonesia at the time). The riot was a huge resulting in 3.1 trillion dollars in damages. This
riot/protest resulted in Suhartos resignation and changes in government to fix the economy.3 Due
to these revolutions indonesian immigration will probably continue until tensions are over.4

1 "Sukarno." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 03 Nov. 2015.

2 "Suharto." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 04 Nov. 2015.
3 "May 1998 Riots of Indonesia." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2015.
4 Daniels, Roger. American Immigration: A Student Companion. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2001. Print.

Indonesians first major visit to the U.S. was in 1953. The International Cooperation
Administration in america started a program in the 50s bringing medical students from
University of Indonesia to University of California, Berkeley. Here they participated in higher
studies which werent available back in Indonesia.5 When the students came back from college
they told everyone about america education and culture. This would become another major pull
factor for the Indonesians who wanted to pursue in education and medical jobs. In 1997 there
were more than 13,000 indonesian students studying in the U.S.6

A huge pull factor in Indonesian immigration was Americas Immigration and Nationality
act of 1965. This act signed by Lyndon Johnson, the 36th president of the united states, made
Immigration to America once again possible for asian countries including Indonesia. Before this
act asia along with other continents like africa, were banned from sending citizens to the united
states.7 This bill was exciting to Indonesians and other immigrants because the fact that america
signed and represented this bill showed that immigrants would be welcomed. Indonesians tired
of brutal life and declining economy in Indonesia looked at the well economy of america as a
new opportunity for a life without troubles.

Indonesian immigration was most significant amount of immigration throughout the 20th
century. Indonesians have immigrated to america since the late 1940s after Japans short rule
over indonesia in WW2. Indonesia's biggest emigrations have occurred during struggles from
5 Yang, Eveline. "Indonesian Americans." Indonesian Americans. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2015.
6 Daniels, Roger. American Immigration: A Student Companion. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2001. Print.
7 "Immigration and Nationality of 1965." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 04 Nov. 2015.

independence (late 40s to early 50s), and corrupt and failing economy(mid 60s to late 90s).
Indonesians peak decade of immigration was during the 1980s. Most of these immigrants have
settled in areas like southern Today there are a little more than 100,000 Indonesian Americans
living in the U.S.8

In conclusion Indonesians immigrated to the U.S. to find a better life.Their decision was
brought about when they realized their government wasn't going to solve their problems but only
increase them. Spanning through the 20th century came Indonesian families seeking education,
jobs, nonviolence, food, and non discrimination. Today mexicans are currently fleeing their
country for the same reasons Indonesians left their country. All the races and groups that have
immigrated to america, including Indonesians, have been pushed by problems and pulled by
opportunities. They all bring pieces of their old home with them (clothes, music, food) that have
created major effect on our society everyday.

8 Bankston 111, Carl L. "Indonesian Immigrants." Immigration to the United States. N.p., n.d. Web. 30
Oct. 2015.