Seven illegal immigrants in Indonesia deported to Middle East

Seven illegal immigrants from Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan who were discovered in the waters off East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, last year have been deported back to their countries of origin.

Immigration officials said that the people were en route to Asmore Reef, Australia, in the hope of being granted asylum when they were arrested by Indonesian police in separate locations.

Batavia Air planes have been used to transport the seven illegal immigrants to their home countries. They were initially flown from Kupang’s El Tari Airport at 8am Jakarta time on Wednesday, before being put on the planes at the capital’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport for their onward journeys.

East Nusa Tenggara immigration detention centre chief Nur El Islami said that the immigrants had made the request for deportation themselves. He explained that they were fed up of being detained for a year with no knowledge of their immigration status.

As well as the seven deported immigrants, Nur revealed that the Immigration Office plans to relocate a further 30 illegal immigrants to various locations in Indonesia because of overcapacity. Some 138 illegal immigrants are currently being held in the province of East Nusa Tenggara.