"Indonesians as illegal migrants in the US? Australia is just next door and why didn't they try there?"
Could it be because we have a horrible reputation for locking illegals up in detention camps located in isolated areas?
I personally think it is actually a rather great reputation. The Australian government has made a commitment to the rule of their popular immigration laws. I wish our government would do the same. I think we should just start deporting all these illegals to Guantanamo Bay. We should not lock them up though. Just kick them off the boat and let them fend for themselves.
I know the US Democrats will faint when you mention "immigration" and "Australia" to them.