Atambua Immigration NTT Deports 12 Timor Leste Citizens

Immigration Officers serve a foreigner from Timor Leste who was deported through the Mota'ain State Border Post (PLBN) in Belu Regency, NTT/ANTARA

ATAMBUA - The Atambua Immigration Office in Belu Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, deported 12 foreign nationals (WNA) Timor Leste due to violations of immigration rules during the January-12 April 2023 period. "Foreigners who were deported were mostly due to violations in the form of entering Indonesian territory illegally or without official travel documents," said Head of Immigration Office Class II Immigration Checkpoint (TPI) Atambua KA Halim when contacted from Kupang, Antara, Monday, April 17. He conveyed this related to legal action due to violations of immigration rules in the RI-Timor Leste border area. Apart from being deported for not having official documents, he said, several foreigners were deported for violating the overstay limit. He gave an example, like a student from Timor Leste who was deported on Wednesday, April 12 for violating a residence permit of up to about 60 days. Deported foreigners, he said, entered Indonesian territory with various destinations, such as visiting relatives, attending traditional events, funerals, continuing studies, and shopping for basic necessities. "Foreigners were deported through the Mota'ain State Border Post (PLBN) and then handed over to the Timor Leste Immigration Officer in Batugede," he said. Halim said that during the field action process, foreigners who violated the law were secured and examined before being deported. During the examination, he said, they were given a firm warning not to repeat acts that violated the law in the territory of the Republic of Indonesia.

"We strongly warn that foreigners do not repeat their actions again if they do not want to get more severe sanctions," he said.