Home minister: Immigration depots facing capacity pressure amid daily enforcement operations

Immigration depots nationwide are facing capacity pressures due to daily enforcement operations against undocumented migrants, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said. — Bernama pic

First Published: Saturday, 17 Oct 2026 4:48 PM MYT

MACHANG, Oct 17 — Immigration depots nationwide are facing capacity pressures due to daily enforcement operations against undocumented migrants, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said.

He said the depots had a combined capacity of about 20,000 people, but the continuous arrival of individuals detained during enforcement operations had led to overcrowding.

The increase in detainees is also result of the Immigration Department’s mapping of areas with high concentrations of foreign nationals based on data collected and analysed from enforcement operations nationwide.

“The mapping exercise enables the authorities to identify areas that are frequently used as settlements or gathering places by foreign nationals.

“Those detained may include individuals without travel documents, those holding expired passes, those who have misused their passes, or individuals with refugee status,” he said.

Saifuddin Nasution was speaking at a press conference after attending the Home Ministry’s 2026 Madani Adopted Village and Madani Adopted School launch ceremony here today.

He said action against each category had to take into account the individuals’ respective status and legal position, adding that enforcement operations also involved other enforcement agencies and local authorities.

Meanwhile, Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu had been identified as the four states recording drug-related case rates above the national threshold, based on figures per 100,000 population.

Saifuddin Nasution explained that the assessment was based on data from four sources, using a calculation method that referred to international standards.

Pendang in Kedah recorded the highest rate in the country, followed by Kuala Krai in second place.

Other districts identified were Tumpat, Tanah Merah and Bachok in Kelantan, as well as Besut in Terengganu, all of which recorded rates exceeding 1,000 cases per 100,000 population.

The data would be used to identify areas requiring more targeted prevention and enforcement measures, he said.

Saifuddin Nasution stressed that cooperation between the Home Ministry, National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK), police and state governments was crucial to intensifying awareness and prevention programmes in the affected areas.

These efforts would include community outreach programmes to educate the public and raise awareness of the dangers of drug abuse. — Bernama