South Sulawesi Immigration Office proposes establishing Toraja Immigration Office

Palopo (ANTARA) – The Regional Office of Immigration of South Sulawesi (Sulsel) has proposed establishing an Immigration Office in Toraja Regency to bring immigration services closer to the public as well as strengthen monitoring and enforcement for foreign nationals. The proposal was conveyed directly by the Head of Sulsel Regional Office Friece Sumolang during a meeting with North Toraja Deputy Regent Andrew Branch Silabi in the Deputy Regent’s Office in North Toraja, South Sulawesi, on Wednesday.

‘So we propose establishing the Toraja Immigration Office; it would serve three working areas, namely Tanah Toraja, Toraja Utara and Enrekang,’ Friece said.

According to Friece, the presence of the Toraja Immigration Office is needed given the geographical conditions of South Sulawesi which feature long distances and remote locations. For example, people in Toraja Utara who wish to manage their passports at the Class II Non-TPI Immigration Office in Palopo must undertake more than a two-hour land journey, with uphill and downhill road conditions in a mountainous highland area. Similarly, for Tanah Toraja and Enrekang, immigration formalities have to be processed at the Class II Non-TPI Immigration Office in Pare-Pare, about a four-hour drive away.

‘Regarding the plan to propose an Immigration Office in Toraja, it relates to how to bring services closer to the people. Considering the distance from Palopo or Pare-Pare offices — it is like climbing a mountain with challenging terrain,’ he said.

Friece hopes that with the presence of the Toraja Immigration Office, all potential such as passport processing, supervision and law enforcement will be more optimal, given that Toraja is a world-renowned tourist destination.

‘Means we will provide immigration services in Toraja, both delivering services and protection to the community and enforcing the law to safeguard the sovereignty of the state,’ Friece added.

He noted that the plan is still in the proposal stage to the Tanah Toraja regional government, and if proposed this year, it is possible that next year the Toraja Class III Non-TPI Immigration Office could be built.

‘We are proposing this year; hopefully the proposal will be approved, and there could be progress next year,’ he said.

Friece added that the South Sulawesi Regional Office of Immigration currently has six technical implementing units, comprising five immigration offices and one immigration detention house (rudenim): Makassar Immigration Office, Pare-Pare Immigration Office, Palopo Immigration Office, and Bantaeng Immigration Office.

North Toraja Deputy Regent Andrew Branch Silabi welcomed the proposal as it would bring immigration services closer so residents would not need to go down the mountains. He noted that Toraja residents, who are mostly Christian, mainly manage passports for tourism and spiritual travel to Jerusalem, Israel.

‘We strongly support this program because it makes it easier to assist the public with most passport processing, so they do not need to go down the mountains, saving time and ensuring maximum service,’ he said.

Separately, Yogie Kashogi, Head of Palopo Class II Non-TPI Immigration Office, said North Toraja Regency has long been under his office’s service area. North Toraja is part of a region with high passport demand. To bring immigration services closer, an ‘easy passport’ is held monthly with quotas that are sometimes exceeded in Toraja Utara.

‘The ’easy passport’ quotas are 50 applicants; in North Toraja, we sometimes exceed the quota,’ he said.

In addition, North Toraja is a Village Under Immigration Guidance in preventing Human Trafficking Crimes (TPPO) and Human Smuggling Crimes (TPPM). Given that many residents in North Toraja work as migrant labourers, on ships or in other jobs.