Indonesia’s Directorate General of Immigration has intensified immigration enforcement across key mining and industrial areas, focusing on the presence and activities of foreign nationals working in strategic sectors. The large-scale inspections target industrial parks, ports, and private airports that serve foreign workers and overseas crews.
One of the main locations under scrutiny is PT Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP) in Central Sulawesi, one of Southeast Asia’s largest nickel-processing hubs. Acting Director General of Immigration Yuldi Yusman confirmed that immigration officers inspected 14,128 foreign nationals operating within the IMIP area.
“We conducted tight monitoring at these entry points at Jetty Fatufia Port and IMIP’s private airport in line with established SOPs together with quarantine and customs authorities,” Yuldi said on Tuesday (December 16, 2025), as reported by Detik.
According to immigration data, vessel traffic at Jetty Fatufia remains high, with 142 ships carrying 2,785 foreign crew members in September, followed by 136 ships with 2,715 crew in October, and 130 ships with 2,445 crew in November.
Authorities summoned tenants, contractors, and foreign nationals suspected of violating immigration rules for further questioning at the Immigration Directorate headquarters. Similar enforcement measures were also carried out at PT Indonesia Weda Bay Industrial Park (IWIP) in Central Halmahera, North Maluku, where 26,650 foreign nationals were inspected. Between November and December, 32 ships with 588 foreign crew members were recorded passing through Weda Bay Port.
Beyond industrial estates, immigration officials uncovered extensive foreign involvement in sand suction vessel operations in the waters off Rambak Beach, Bangka Belitung. These operations involved foreign nationals—primarily Thai citizens—working as ship crew members. Authorities identified 32 business entities operating 37 vessels, employing 202 foreign nationals.
Further investigations revealed foreign nationals allegedly playing active roles in tin ingot production at PT Mitra Graha Raya (MGR), despite holding residence permits that did not match their actual activities. Immigration authorities have summoned MGR and its partner companies for clarification regarding the legal status and roles of the foreign workers involved.
Yuldi emphasized that immigration violations in strategic sectors will not be tolerated. He stressed the government’s commitment to safeguarding national sovereignty and maintaining legal order through firm enforcement actions in line with Indonesian law.
In a separate nationwide operation known as Operation Wira Waspada, conducted from 10–12 December 2025, Immigration carried out 2,298 monitoring activities across Indonesia. The operation resulted in the detention of 220 foreign nationals suspected of immigration violations.
Chinese nationals accounted for the largest group, with 114 individuals detained, followed by citizens from Nigeria (16), India (14), South Korea (11), and Pakistan (8). The most common violation was misuse of residence permits, involving 92 individuals, followed by overstaying and other administrative breaches.
Immigration enforcement may proceed through administrative sanctions such as deportation, re-entry bans, and fines, or through criminal prosecution. Authorities also warned that companies sponsoring or employing foreign workers illegally could face severe penalties, including license revocation and criminal charges.
Source: Detik, Media Indonesia
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