The Indonesian House of Representatives (Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Republik Indonesia or DPR RI) recently highlighted the practice of contract marriages, unregistered marriages, and pseudo-marriages involving foreign nationals, which have become rampant in Bogor, West Java.
A member of Commission XIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Meity Rahmatia, emphasised that as a buffer zone for the capital, Bogor experiences a high level of foreign national mobility, thereby requiring much stricter immigration oversight. Consequently, weak immigration supervision in Bogor opens up opportunities for stay permit violations and the abuse of immigration status by foreign nationals.
Rahmatia also highlighted the presence of foreign nationals suspected of violating their stay permits, including cases of overstaying. She believes that a more effective detection and enforcement system is needed, both through administrative immigration sanctions and other legal measures.
“Bogor is a buffer zone for the capital, and this is what I would like to ask the Immigration Office; in Bogor, there are still rampant unregistered marriages as well as pseudo-marriages with foreign nationals. Regarding contract marriages [involving foreign nationals], perhaps I can get an explanation on what the oversight is like,” said Rahmatia during a working visit by Commission XIII to the Bogor Immigration Office, West Java, on Thursday, the 22nd of January.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Basarah, a member of Commission XIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives, assessed that monitoring foreign nationals in the Bogor area, particularly South Bogor, cannot be carried out in isolation. He emphasised the need for cross-sector synergy, given the complexity of the issues on the ground.
“South Bogor has the problem that Ms. Meity [Rahmatia] mentioned earlier: many citizens from Asia, the Middle East and Central Asia come seeking political asylum and so on, and then they have side jobs like opening businesses, restaurants and so on. Then, as justification, they engage in contract marriages, unregistered marriages and so on,” Basarah said.
Basarah also noted that the modus operandi used by foreign nationals has become increasingly diverse over time.
“Their activities actually deviate significantly from their status. Asylum or refugee status is often used as a cover for economic activities that directly impact the local community,” he observed as well.