A Nigerian national has been deported from Indonesia after immigration authorities determined that he could not produce a valid travel document or residence permit required for his stay in the country.
The Tanjungpinang Immigration Detention Centre in Riau Islands Province confirmed the deportation on Thursday, stating that the Nigerian was among two foreign nationals removed from Indonesia on Tuesday, August 18.
The two deportees were flown out through the immigration checkpoint at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang.
According to the detention centre, the Nigerian violated Article 71(b) of Indonesia’s Immigration Law after failing to provide immigration officials with valid documentation authorising his stay.
Before being deported, he was held at the Tanjungpinang Immigration Detention Centre, where officials worked to establish his identity and process the necessary travel documents for his removal.
A detention centre official, I Wayan Putu Wiadnya, described the deportation as an administrative measure taken against foreign nationals found to have breached Indonesian immigration regulations.
“We returned them and ensured the entire process was conducted professionally, orderly, safely and accountably,” Wiadnya said.
The Nigerian was deported alongside a Palestinian national who was also found to have breached Indonesia’s immigration regulations.
Authorities said the Palestinian had overstayed his authorised period of stay, an offence covered under Article 78(3) of the country’s Immigration Law.
The Head of the Tanjungpinang Immigration Detention Centre, Erybowo Radyan Asmono, said the deportations formed part of the authorities’ broader efforts to enforce immigration regulations and maintain proper oversight of foreign nationals residing in Indonesia.
“Immigration law enforcement is essential to protecting national sovereignty, but it must remain firm, professional and guided by humanitarian principles,” Asmono said.
He reminded foreign nationals in Indonesia that compliance with the country’s immigration laws and regulations was mandatory, warning that breaches could result in appropriate administrative measures by the authorities.