Indonesia strengthens tracking of 12,204 foreign refugees

Padang, W Sumatra (ANTARA) - Indonesia's Directorate General of Immigration is strengthening data verification for 12,204 foreign refugees by recording photographs, biometric data, addresses and requiring regular reports on their whereabouts.

Eka Satriawan, head of the Illegal Immigrant and Refugee Handling Coordination Team, said the measures would enable authorities to monitor refugees' presence and movements more accurately.

"Through interagency coordination, we can regularly update information on foreign refugees. This is important so changes in their whereabouts or movements are properly recorded," he said during the establishment and inauguration of the Padang Forum for Detention and Refugee Handling (Forkopdensi) on Monday.

According to UNHCR data provided by the Directorate General of Immigration, Indonesia had 12,204 foreign refugees across the country as of September 2026.

Afghans accounted for 4,814 refugees, followed by Myanmar nationals with 2,561 and Somalis with 1,673, together representing 74.7 percent of the total.

Eka said 70.7 percent of the refugees were aged 18 or older, while more than 60 percent had refugee status, indicating a long-term protection process.

The government still needs to verify the data because the refugee information it receives currently comes from UNHCR, he said.

Immigration detention centers, known as Rudenim, and relevant agencies will collect photographs and biometric data and verify refugees' addresses.

The initial data will then be verified and consolidated into permanent records, Eka said. Refugees will also be required to report their whereabouts monthly to Rudenim.

"If refugee data is provided to Immigration, we will verify it. With the same system, their whereabouts can be identified and missing records traced," he said.

The database will also record refugees' latest verified locations, enabling authorities to track and document movements between regions.

An integrated database is needed because refugee management cannot be handled by a single agency, Eka said.

Various agencies have separate responsibilities, including Immigration, local governments, police, the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) and other relevant institutions.

Coordination is being strengthened through Forkopdensi, which serves as an interagency forum for handling detainees and refugees.

Beyond data collection, coordination is needed for security, healthcare, education, transfers, escorts, repatriation and refugee resettlement in third countries.

Eka said refugee management must also uphold the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning people to countries where they face risks to their safety.

Indonesia's refugee policy requires a balance between law enforcement, oversight of foreign nationals and humanitarian protection, he said.

"For refugees, we must be firm on rules but remain humane in our values because human rights must also be considered," he said.

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Translator: Najmi A, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Primayanti
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