Bekasi Immigration Exposes Illegal Sponsor Network in Data Centre Project

Bekasi Class I Non-TPI Immigration Office has uncovered an illegal sponsorship network behind the misuse of foreign nationals’ residence permits. The discovery followed the apprehension of 78 foreign workers at a data centre construction project in the GIIC Deltamas Industrial Estate, Cikarang, Bekasi Regency.

Bekasi Class I Non-TPI Immigration Chief Anggi Wicaksono stated that perpetrators used shell companies to illegally bring in foreign workers. Officers found a structured violation pattern where workers’ documents were deliberately split across multiple sponsors to evade detection.

“This is also a challenge on the ground; some sponsors cooperate while others do not, and some refuse to account for their responsibilities,” Anggi told Antara on Sunday (24 May).

Anggi explained that a notable finding involved Chinese workers employed on the data centre project. Despite working for the main contractor, their visa status was registered under another company, which was later found to be fictitious.

“When officers checked, the company’s premises were empty. It existed only on paper, established solely as a bureaucratic formality for visa compliance,” he added.

In strict action, Bekasi Immigration has permanently blocked the accounts of sponsors and guaranteeing companies proven to have violated regulations within the visa application system. This measure bars them from bringing in new foreign workers to Indonesia.

According to immigration statistics for the first quarter of 2026, Bekasi Immigration has deported 23 foreign nationals. Additionally, 21 overstays and 139 other immigration violations were addressed. In terms of services, the office issued 5,031 residence permits during the same period.