The Directorate General of Immigration has relocated 78 illegal immigrants from Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran to its detention center in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, after they had escaped from their shelter in Cisarua in the West Java regency of Bogor last month.
Head of Kupang immigration office for supervision and enforcement Moon Bagarai told Antara news agency on Sunday the relocation would facilitate assessment by the UN High Commissioner for Refugee if they deserve asylum seeker status.
He added four other illegal immigrants remained at large.
East Sumba police arrested the 82 illegal immigrants in the waters off East Nusa Tenggara on June 27 after the boat carrying them was stranded near Salura Island. The foreigners were leaving for Australia with a help from a local resident.
The immigrants said they fled the Cisarua shelter due to the protracted process of their relocation to Australia.
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