Area residents held signs at a protest speaking out against the treatment of immigrants by ICE. Speakers at the protest shared support for Aditya Harsono, a Marshall resident who had his student visa revoked suddenly last month.

MARSHALL — Around 40 people gathered at Memorial Park on Tuesday to show support for a Marshall resident who had his student visa revoked without warning. Protesters said they were speaking out for Aditya Harsono, and for other people in the U.S. being denied due process.

“We’re speaking out peacefully to protect basic rights of all people in the United States,” Darwin Dyce said, addressing the demonstrators.

In statements read at Tuesday’s protest, Harsono and his family thanked Marshall community members for their support.

“All we ask right now are your continued prayers,” Aditya Harsono’s statement said. “Your support and love have truly kept me going and given me strength through this. I’m holding on to the hope that justice will be served, and I’ll be back home with my family.”

Harsono, 33, was arrested by ICE agents on March 27, four days after his student visa was taken away. Harsono is originally from Indonesia, and completed both a bachelor’s degree and a masters degree at Southwest Minnesota State University. At the time of his arrest, Harsono was working legally under an Optional Practical Training Program, his attorney Sarah Gad wrote to the Independent.

On Friday, the Trump administration moved to restore deleted visa records in the federal Student and Exchange Visitor Information Systems (SEVIS) database. But it’s still in question whether student visas that have already been revoked will be restored.

“We are actively working to confirm the current status of his (Aditya’s) student visa,” Aditya’s wife Peyton Harsono wrote on a public GoFundMe page Friday.

Organizers of Tuesday’s demonstration stood at the corner of Main Street and College Drive with handmade signs. Some of the people present dropped off donations of diapers and other supplies to help Aditya Harsono’s wife and daughter. The event wrapped up with speakers and live music.

Marshall resident Julie Walker said she had reached out to Peyton Harsono this week, and received messages to share at the demonstration.

“She messaged me and said, ‘Thank you so much for reaching out. I had no idea the Marshall community was so invested in supporting our family. It truly means a lot to us. We’re incredibly grateful, and honestly we didn’t expect this kind of generosity,'” Walker read.

Walker also read out a message from Aditya Harsono, who is still in ICE custody at the Kandiyohi County Jail.

“Thank you so much for everything, and especially for standing by us,” Harsono’s message said. “The love and support shown to my family has meant more than words can express. I want you all to know that I’m doing OK in here, and in time the truth will come to light.”

Walker called on the group to contact their legislators. “It’s our responsibility that we need to do that, not just for Aditya, not just for the Harsono family, but for all of the families, all of the students and all of the individuals who have not received due process,” she said. “We know this is not the only group of people being impacted.”

Some of the demonstrators included area community members who knew Harsono. Will Thomas said he had taught Harsono at SMSU.

“He’s a brilliant, hardworking student, but still willing to come in and ask questions,” Thomas said. He said the last time he saw Harsono, Harsono was looking forward to having his family together in Marshall, and working and being part of the U.S.

Thomas said it felt surprising that student visas would be revoked in Marshall. “It’s disheartening that it’s happening anywhere,” he said.

Walker said Tuesday’s protest was not the only one area residents planned to hold going forward. They were also planning to speak out about the impact of tariffs on Minnesota farmers, and issues facing the residents of the Broadmoor Valley mobile home park in Marshall.