BALINEWSID.COM, DENPASAR – Bali’s Regional Office of the Directorate General of Immigration has intensified its enforcement against foreign nationals violating Indonesian immigration laws, resulting in the deportation of 342 foreigners during the first half of 2026.

From January to June 2026, immigration authorities across the island carried out extensive inspections and imposed administrative immigration sanctions on hundreds of foreign nationals found guilty of various immigration-related offenses.

The large-scale enforcement operation involved all immigration offices in Bali, including Ngurah Rai Special Class I Immigration Office, Denpasar Class I Immigration Office, Singaraja Class II Immigration Office, Tabanan and Klungkung Class III Non-Border Immigration Offices, as well as the Denpasar Immigration Detention Center.

Immigration officers conducted targeted inspections at residences and locations frequently occupied by foreign nationals as part of ongoing efforts to safeguard public security, maintain social order, and address violations with potential economic and social impacts.

According to immigration data for the first semester of 2026, the majority of cases involved visa misuse and overstaying residence permits. Authorities also uncovered cases involving foreigners working without proper authorization, engaging in fictitious investment schemes, disrupting public order, and violating local customs and traditions in ways that posed threats to community security.

Head of the Bali Regional Office of the Directorate General of Immigration, Felucia Sengky Ratna, emphasized that Bali remains open to legitimate tourists and foreign investors as part of the provincial government’s commitment to strengthening the island’s position as a world-class tourism destination. However, she stressed that compliance with Indonesian law is mandatory for every foreign national.

“There is no safe haven in Bali for foreigners who disrespect Indonesian law or disrupt the island’s social order. We will take firm action through deportation and blacklisting against anyone proven to have violated immigration regulations. This is not merely routine law enforcement, but a concrete commitment to protecting the public and ensuring a safe and orderly environment,” Felucia said in an official statement.

She noted that the success of the enforcement campaign was driven by enhanced field surveillance conducted through independent operations, the Dharma Dewata Immigration Patrol, and strengthened coordination with the Foreigners Supervision Team (Timpora), which brings together multiple government agencies.

Inter-agency cooperation also led to several major law enforcement successes during the first half of 2026.

In March, Immigration authorities, working alongside Indonesia’s National Narcotics Agency (BNN) and the Directorate General of Customs and Excise, dismantled a clandestine narcotics laboratory allegedly operated by two Russian nationals.

During the same month, officers arrested a British citizen listed under an Interpol Red Notice at the Immigration Checkpoint of I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.

In June, Bali Immigration, in collaboration with the National Police’s Narcotics Crime Directorate (Dittipidnarkoba Bareskrim Polri) and the Australian Federal Police (AFP), successfully prevented the departure of an Australian Interpol fugitive allegedly linked to an outlaw motorcycle gang and illegal drug trafficking in Australia.

Felucia said these achievements demonstrate that effective immigration enforcement depends on close cooperation among domestic and international law enforcement agencies to uphold Indonesia’s sovereignty and national security.

She also called on the Balinese public to actively participate in monitoring the presence and activities of foreign nationals by reporting suspicious behavior through official complaint channels available at local immigration offices.

“We encourage members of the public not to hesitate in reporting any suspicious activities involving foreign nationals that may violate Indonesian law. Together, we can preserve the dignity, security, and harmony of Bali as one of the world’s leading tourist destinations,” she concluded.