Net Immigration 170 Overstay Foreigners From 27 Countries

The Directorate General of Immigration of the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections has arrested 170 foreign nationals (WNA) from 27 countries spread across Jakarta, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi (Jadetabek) for violating immigration administration, such as "overstay", fictitious sponsors, and fictitious investors.

Acting Director General of Immigration Yuldi Yusman said the violations committed by foreigners, some of them were overstayed, some of whom had visas of investors were still active, but it turned out that the investment did not exist, so they were given firm action in the form of immigration administration actions.

He explained that the 170 foreigners came from Nigeria (61 people), Cameroon (27 people), Pakistan (14 people), Sierra Leone (12 people), Ivory Coast (eight people), and Gambia (eight people).

They were caught in the Wira Alerti Jabodetabek Supervision Operation on May 14-16, 2025. The operation, which involved 10 immigration offices, was carried out at 28 points jointly targeting three objects, namely apartments, cafes, and shopping centers.

According to Yusman, netted foreigners cannot show travel documents and exceed the residence permit period. In addition, some of those who use investor visas are not proven to have an investment and others are not proven to have sponsors in Indonesia.

They are suspected of violating Article 78 and Article 123 of Law Number 6 of 2011 concerning Immigration. The articles in question regulate overstay and submission of false data or incorrect information to obtain a visa or residence permit.

"The threat of punishment for this violation is a maximum sentence of five years and/or a maximum fine of Rp. 500 million, as well as the imigration administration's imigration in the form of deportation and inclusion in the deterrence list," said Yusman.

The average foreigner who was detained has lived in Indonesia for two to three years. They have purely violated the Immigration Law and have not found any criminal acts that have the potential to be sentenced to criminal penalties.

Yusman also said there was no regulatory loophole in this case. According to him, all foreigners were prosecuted based on the Immigration Law which has regulated various forms of immigration violations.

"This means that if he enters Indonesia using an investor visa, in fact there is no investment here, of course we can deport him. When he enters here, his sponsor is checked, his sponsor is also fictitious, we can deport him," he said.