Immigration Suspends 2,846 Passport Applicants Suspected of Intention to Become Illegal PMI

The Directorate General (Ditjen) of Immigration at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights on Jalan HR Rasuna Said Jakarta. (Between)

JAKARTA - The Directorate General (Dirjen) of Immigration at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights (Kemenkumham) has postponed 2,846 passport applicants. Delays were made by 126 Immigration offices for the last eight months.

Imam Prawira, an official from the Immigration Traffic Directorate at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, said that thousands of applicants were strongly suspected of going abroad to become non-procedural or illegal Indonesian migrant workers (PMI).

"The postponement of issuing passports is an effort to prevent people from becoming non-procedural migrant workers," he said in Palembang, South Sumatra (Sumsel), Thursday 14 September, reported by Antara.

Imam revealed this at the Socialization event for Confirmation of Passport Issuance Requirements and Procedures for Immigration Checks at Immigration Checkpoints (TPI) held by the TPI Palembang Class I Immigration Office.

According to him, the action to delay granting passports is not to make things difficult or hinder people who want to work abroad. However, as an effort to protect and safeguard people so that they do not become victims of fraud using the method of sending migrant workers.

"It is even possible that prospective non-procedural migrant workers become victims of criminal acts of trafficking in persons (TPPO) so such people need to be rescued from international crime syndicates," he said.

For people whose passports have been postponed because they are suspected of being non-procedural migrant workers, Imam continued, this does not mean they cannot get a passport.

They can still get their rights, but are required to fulfill procedures as prospective migrant workers according to applicable regulations.

"If all requirements and procedures are fulfilled properly, there is no longer any reason for Immigration officers to delay granting passports," he added.

Regarding the large number of Indonesian migrant workers who have worked abroad and have problems or become illegal workers, Imam emphasized that this is not the business of the Immigration office which issues or provides passports.

When a passport is given to the applicant, the officer believes that the required documents comply with the provisions, such as KTP, family card, birth certificate or marriage certificate or diploma, and recommendations from the Manpower Service and other supporting documents if they fulfill the requirements to become a migrant worker.

"Problems that arise after a passport is given to the public are the responsibility of the holder, the problem cannot be taken to the Immigration Office that issued it. If that happens and triggers a polemic, it can also be taken to the Population and Civil Registry Service, why is the person concerned given an ID card which is one "requirements for making a passport," said Imam.

Meanwhile, Head of the TPI Palembang Class I Immigration Office, Mohammad Ridwan, added that until September 2023, his agency had postponed and refused to grant passports to more than 100 people because they were suspected of being non-procedural migrant workers and potentially victims of TIP.

"Refusal and delay in granting passports was carried out after officers conducted interviews with applicants who were suspected of traveling abroad to become illegal Indonesian migrant workers or did not comply with procedures and had the potential to become victims of TIP. Officers took this action as a precautionary measure," said Ridwan.

On the same occasion, the Head of the Immigration Division of the Regional Office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights for South Sumatra, Herdaus, said that through this socialization activity, his party was trying to explain the process and requirements for issuing passports as other agencies issue population and other documents.

If a person applies for a passport and meets all the requirements set out, there is no reason for the officer to refuse to process it and issue a passport to the person concerned.

"Through socialization activities attended by representatives of all law enforcement officers, universities, the general public, Indonesian employment services companies (PJTKI), and journalists, we can correct wrong perceptions that have occurred so far. If there is a problem with passport holders abroad, it is questioned which regional Immigration Office issued their passports. ," said Herdaus.