Immigration Enforcement Actions Rise by 74.8 per cent, Director-General Says
Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s Directorate General of Immigration recorded a significant increase in immigration law enforcement across the country between January and September 2026, up 74.8 per cent compared with the same period a year earlier.
Director-General of Immigration Hendarsam Marantoko said the more effective enforcement was supported by stronger digital monitoring technology, including the Foreign Nationals Reporting Application (APOA), Subject of Interest (SOI) and the Immigration Law Enforcement Application for Refugees (APGAKUM Pengungsi).
“By optimising APOA, SOI and APGAKUM Pengungsi, Immigration is seeking to strengthen immigration monitoring governance that is data-based, integrated and accountable,” Hendarsam said in a statement confirmed in Jakarta on Monday.
He said these efforts also formed part of measures to strengthen officers’ integrity and professionalism, making monitoring and enforcement more effective in maintaining security and public order in Indonesia.
According to Directorate General of Immigration data, 17,597 Immigration Administrative Actions (TAK) were imposed on foreign nationals who breached regulations between January and September 2026.
The number of enforcement actions in the first nine months of 2026 rose by 74.8 per cent from the 10,065 recorded in the same period of 2025.
The 17,597 actions comprised cancellation of residence permits for 5,310 foreign nationals, up sharply from 1,865 in 2025; deportation of 5,310, compared with 3,062 in 2025; proposed entry bans for 3,950, up from 1,452; detention of 3,022, compared with 2,652; and orders barring five people from specific locations, down from 13 in 2025.
The 10,065 actions recorded in the corresponding period of 2025 also included 986 combined deportation and proposed entry-ban measures, as well as 35 restrictions, changes or cancellations of residence permits.
In addition to administrative sanctions, the Directorate General of Immigration took action against offences classified as immigration crimes. From January to September 2026, 30 notices of commencement of investigation (SPDP) were issued, involving a total of 89 suspects.
Of those suspects, 62 were still under investigation, 20 had reached the P-21 stage, meaning their case files were complete, or had entered court proceedings, and seven had received final, legally binding verdicts.
The most common nationalities among suspects in immigration crime cases were Malaysian, with 34 people, followed by Chinese nationals with 20, Pakistani nationals with 10, Bangladeshi nationals with nine and Filipino nationals with five.
Hendarsam added that strengthening digital monitoring demonstrated the Directorate General of Immigration’s commitment to serving the public through enforcement that is strict in applying the rules and humane in its assessment.
“Digitising immigration monitoring ensures that our data is accurate, up to date and actionable. With supporting technology and officers’ integrity, monitoring can be carried out in a more targeted manner,” Hendarsam said.