Illegal Middle Eastern Immigrants Sent To Kupang

Kupang, E Nusa Tenggara, July 12 (ANTARA) - As many as 59 illegal immigrants from various Middle Eastern countries were caught in East Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), and sent to Kupang on a Wilis motor boat owned by PT Pelni on Wednesday. "The illegal immigrants, who arrived at 2 pm (local time) in Tenau Kupang port, were caught by Kupang immigration officers and placed at a temporary shelter," Head of Kupang Immigration Agency Silvester Sililaba said on Wednesday. The immigrants were captured at Laiwutung beach, Kadahang, Hararu sub-district, East Sumba district on Monday (July 4). Sililaba said the group consisted of 51 Iraqis, six Iranians, one Syrian, and one Kuwaiti. There are 55 men, three women, and one boy, he added. These illegal immigrants will be temporarily placed at the immigration office because the Immigration Detention House (Rudenim) is fully occupied and cannot accommodate any more immigrants, Sililaba explained. In the past one month, the immigration officers arrested 128 illegal immigrants in Rote Ndao, West Sumba, and East Sumba. The detention house is currently accommodating 157 people, while its official capacity is of 92 people. We have far exceeded the capacity," Head of Kupang Rudenim Nur El Islami pointed out. She said it was difficult to relocate the immigrants to the 13 other Rudenims in Indonesia because those places also faced the same problem. "This issue has been submitted to the Director General of Immigration in Jakarta. All Rudenims are fully occupied," Islami added.