The Indonesian Directorate General of Immigration deported 1,503 foreign nationals during the first trimester of 2024. Among these, 66 were deported by the immigration office at Ngurah Rai Airport, Bali, primarily due to overstays. This marks a significant increase of 135% compared to the same period last year, when only 639 foreigners were deported in the first half of 2023.
Director General of Immigration, Silmy Karim, stated that deportation is the most common punishment for foreigners violating Indonesian regulations. "We imposed immigration administrative sanctions on 2,041 foreigners. Of these, 1,503, or about 73.64%, were deported," explained Karim.
Other penalties for foreigners include blacklisting, changes or cancellations of residence permits, restrictions on staying in certain places, movement restrictions within Indonesia, fines, and/or deportation.
In the first half of 2024, the Bogor immigration office recorded the highest number of penalties for foreigners at 136, followed by Soekarno-Hatta immigration office with 124, and Batam immigration office with 118.
In May last year, the immigration service conducted an operation named "Jagratara," which resulted in the arrest of 914 foreigners. In June this year, "Bali Becik" operation led to the detention of 103 foreigners in a villa in Tabanan, suspected of cybercrimes.
The Directorate General of Immigration will enhance oversight and take necessary measures to maintain security and order in the country. "We are intensifying operations both locally and nationally. This is our effort to contribute to national security while ensuring a preventive effect to minimize immigration violations," emphasized Karim.
From January to June 2024, Ngurah Rai Immigration Office deported 6 foreigners in January, 12 in February, 19 in March, 8 in April, 8 in May, and 13 in June. The deportees came from diverse countries including Saudi Arabia, England, Germany, South Africa, Russia, Singapore, the USA, Belgium, and others.
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