JAKARTA, LITERASIHUKUM.COM - The plenary session of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) approved the naturalization of footballers Mitchell Lee Baker and Luke Anthony Vickery as Indonesian citizens. The approval was made in the 22nd Plenary Session of the DPR for the 2025-2026 Session Period in the DPR Building, Jakarta, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. [1]

The plenary approval was given after Commission X and Commission XIII of the DPR RI conducted joint discussions with the government. The Speaker of the DPR RI, Puan Maharani, led the forum and requested the session's approval for the request to grant consideration for Indonesian citizenship to the two athletes.

Citizenship Consideration

Commission XIII had previously approved the naturalization of the two footballers after hearing the government's explanation. During the discussion, the Chairperson of Commission XIII, Willy Aditya, emphasized that the policy of granting citizenship should not be viewed narrowly solely for the interests of one sector at a given moment.

According to Willy, the momentum of naturalization needs to be an entry point for comprehensively improving the governance of the Indonesian diaspora. Thus, citizenship policy can be placed within a broader framework, including strengthening the state's relationship with Indonesian descendants abroad.

Notes from Commission X

Commission X has also given its approval regarding the naturalization. The commission overseeing sports emphasized that athlete naturalization must be carried out selectively, considering strategic needs, athlete commitment, clear and transparent criteria, long-term seeding and development programs, as well as continuous evaluation.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports and PSSI are requested to submit periodic reports on the achievements of the naturalization program, the contributions of naturalized athletes, and their impact on the development and achievements of national football.

Indonesian Ancestry Background

Mitchell Baker is said to have Indonesian lineage from his grandfather who was born in Yogyakarta and his grandmother who was born in Semarang, Central Java. Meanwhile, Luke Vickery has Indonesian blood from his grandmother who was born in Medan, North Sumatra.

Mitchell currently plays for Georgetown University in the NCAA competition in the United States. Luke is a winger for Macarthur FC, a club competing in the top tier of Australian football.

State Implications

The DPR's approval has implications not only for sports but also for citizenship law. After obtaining the DPR's consideration, the naturalization process must still be followed up according to the applicable government mechanisms.

The athlete naturalization policy also opens up space for evaluating the relationship between sports achievements, national interests, and diaspora management. Therefore, transparency in criteria and post-naturalization evaluation becomes key so that the policy does not stop at short-term competition needs.