TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Bekasi administration has detained 124 illegal foreigners on document raids conducted since October 2014.
“The raids are focused on foreigners without legal documents,” Nizam Haikal, head of public awareness and national and political division of the Demography and Civil Registry Agency, said in Bekasi.
According to Nizam there are a total of 1,300 foreigners living in the city, comprising 300 foreign workers and 1,000 expatriates. The Bekasi administration is currently watching illegal workers because they are suspected to have 'hidden' agendas, such as influencing Indonesians with their ideologies.
“It could pose a threat to the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI),” Nizam said.
Nizam added that detained foreigners will be transferred to Foreigner Watch Division of Bekasi Police to be questioned.
Meanwhile, the Tangerang administration has yet conducted similar raids due to budget constraints. Asep Yusuf, the head of demographic data division of the Tangerang Civil Registry Agency said his institution provided companies employing foreign workers with outreaches about the importance of having legal documents.
“About 90 percent [of foreign workers] are working as managers and experts,” Asep said.
ADI WARSONO | JONIANSYAH | ILHAM TIRTA