Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesian immigration authorities have strengthened early detection systems at international departure points to reduce the risk of Indonesian citizens falling victim to human trafficking.
According to an official statement, 8,827 Indonesians identified as being at risk of human trafficking were prevented from departing between January and July 2026. This figure represents a 12.36 percent decrease compared to the 9,456 people recorded during the same period in 2025.
“We are committed to strengthening prevention at the source through risk-based monitoring, public education, and cross-sector collaboration to ensure no more Indonesian citizens fall victim to human trafficking,” Director General of Immigration Hendarsam Marantoko said in a statement in Jakarta on Tuesday.
From January to July, immigration authorities also rejected 9,349 passport applications suspected of being targets for misuse.
A key focal point was the Batam Immigration Office, as it handles one of the strategic transit routes across the Malacca Strait, where 17 passport applications were rejected in the first half of 2026.
“This is a reminder for us that protecting citizens is a shared responsibility,” he said.
The Directorate General of Immigration recorded a significant drop in suspected departures of unprocedural Indonesian migrant workers in 2025 compared to 2024.
Official data shows that rejected passport applications declined by 63.97 percent, dropping from 2,470 cases in 2024 to 890 in 2025. Meanwhile, departure delays fell by 67.85 percent, from 20,291 people to 6,524.
Hendarsam affirmed that his office is carrying out layered preventive measures, starting from passport issuance to departure checks at immigration checkpoints, conducted in accordance with the Immigration Law.
As part of preventive measures against human trafficking, the Directorate General of Immigration has established 1,178 Immigration Fostered Villages and deployed 516 Village Immigration Guidance Officers.
The program, he explained, aims to raise public awareness about the dangers of human trafficking, educate communities on official overseas employment procedures, and bolster early detection at the village level.
As for prevention at border checkpoints, he explained that individuals identified as potential trafficking victims returning to Indonesia will be included in the Subject of Interest (SOI) database by the immigration system.
“That way, if they attempt to travel abroad again, officers at immigration checkpoints will receive an alert regarding these individuals,” he added.
Furthermore, the authorities are also focusing on cracking down on agents and intermediaries who facilitate unprocedural departures and may be involved in human trafficking networks.
These efforts are being carried out through close coordination with law enforcement agencies and relevant ministries to identify recruitment patterns, departure routes, and key actors involved in these illicit practices.
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Translator: Laily Rahmawaty, Raka Adji
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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