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Batam Immigration rejects 84 passports of illegal workers
Batam Immigration Office has rejected 84 passport applicants in November, saying the applicants would allegedly use the passports to work overseas illegally.
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Undocumented immigrants in Batam wait for buses that will transport them from Aspirasi Park to the Immigration Detention Center and Kolekta Hotel in a recent photo. (JP/Fadli)
B
atam Immigration Office has rejected 84 passport applicants in November, saying the applicants would allegedly use the passports to work overseas illegally.
“This is one of the efforts of the immigration [office] to prevent more victims of human trafficking,” the head of Batam Immigration Office Teguh Prayitno said in Batam on Tuesday.
The office was suspicious after the applicants, the majority of whom came from outside of Batam, failed to give a clear reason why they were applying for the passports.
Feddy M Pasha, the office’s head of traffic and immigration, said the 25 applicants were using identity cards from West Sumatra, Aceh, North Sumatra, Lampung, Lombok, West Java and Central Java.
“The rest of the applicants were using Batam identity cards, but they were from outside of Batam,” he added.
Feddy however underlined that immigration authorities did not have any ulterior motives to prevent people who wanted to work overseas.
“If they want to work overseas, they should follow the legal mechanism. The right mechanism will protect them if they come across problems in foreign countries,” Feddy said. (dmr)
