Since the Beginning of the Year, Bali's Immigration Authorities have Sent 378 Foreigners Packing!

The Indonesian authorities have released the latest deportation statistics. Since the beginning of the year, a total of 1,503 people have been expelled from Indonesia, representing a 135.21% increase compared to 2023, when 639 foreigners were deported during the same period. Of these individuals, 378 were deported from Bali alone.

Silmy Karim, Director General of Immigration, stated that deportation remains the most common measure used to enforce immigration laws concerning foreigners. In the first half of 2024, deportation accounted for 73.64% of all administrative actions taken by the Immigration Service across the country. "We must respond to the increasing mobility of foreigners by increasing vigilance regarding their activities," Karim said.

As part of their oversight efforts, the Immigration Office conducted a nationwide operation named "Jagrathara." In May 2024, 914 foreigners were detained, followed by 1,293 in July. In Bali, during the "Bali Bekik" operation in June 2024, 103 foreign individuals suspected of involvement in an international cybercrime syndicate were identified and arrested.

Several recent deportation cases include three foreign women involved in prostitution, deported by the Denpasar Immigration Office. Among them was FN, a 24-year-old Ugandan national, who was found offering services through the Massage Republic website. Two Russian women, identified as A.K. and K.A., were also deported for similar offenses. All were expelled from the country.

The head of the Immigration Office, Ridha Sah Putra, emphasized, "We will continue monitoring the activities of foreigners in Bali and take strict measures against those who abuse their visas or residency rules." He also mentioned that the Denpasar Immigration Office has proposed adding these offenders to the national blacklist to prevent their return to Indonesia.

Less scandalous cases also occur. For instance, a Russian national identified as A.K. was deported for violating Article 75(1) of the Immigration Law. While the specifics of his offense remain unclear, he has been banned from re-entering the country.

Another Russian, V.S., was deported for breaching visa regulations. According to Gustavianto Napitupulu, the acting head of the detention center in Denpasar, V.S. held an investor KITAS but failed to update his address in February 2024 and had no active company. Authorities advised foreigners to update their address with immigration, but cautioned that fake investors should consider applying for a digital nomad visa, which requires no dubious activities.

Sources: baliviralnews, imigrasidenpasar