Bali is deploying a new Immigration Task Force Team to help keep tourists safe and crack down on illegal and unruly behavior.
The new team, known as the Dharma Dewata Task Force, has been officially inaugurated by the Directorate General of Immigration at the Puputan Margarana Niti Mandala Renon Field in Denpasar this week.
The new task force comprises hundreds of immigration officers. The team has been deployed to focus on patrols at several hotspots and to be on the lookout for immigration violations that may pose a threat to public safety or order.
The team has also been trained to respond quickly to any potential violations in the field and will work alongside other security agencies, including Bali Police and the Pecalang.
The Director General of Immigration, Hendarsam Marantoko, emphasized that the formation of the task force reflects a commitment to maintaining security and order in Bali.
He told the newly established unit, “This is a concrete step to maintain stability and security in Bali as Indonesia’s leading tourist destination.” Marantoko confirmed that the Dharma Dewata Task Force will conduct routine patrols, especially in areas with a high concentration of foreigners, including top resorts such as Canggu and Uluwatu. In addition to surveillance operations, the team will also act as a quick response to any indication of immigration violations.
Marantoko explained, “We will continue to intensify surveillance operations, both through routine patrols at the regional level and nationally, to maintain security stability and increase public trust in Immigration.”
The Directorate General of Immigration is going one step further. In addition to the Dharma Dewata Task Force, the Indonesian Immigration has also created a team of Village Guidance Immigration Officers (PIMPASA) in Bali. This new program uses a community-based approach, involving village officials and community leaders in immigration oversight.
PIMPASA will play a frontline role in prevention through education and gathering information on the presence of foreigners in each community. Through a collaborative effort between the Dharma Dewata Task Force’s tactical patrols and PIMPASA’s regional surveillance, Bali’s immigration oversight system is anticipated to become stronger and more comprehensive.
Marantoko told the teams, “The current immigration challenges are increasingly complex with the increasing flow of globalization, tourism, and investment. Therefore, professionalism, integrity, and solid coordination between all relevant elements are required.”
He advised all inaugurated officers, “To always carry out their duties with full responsibility, uphold ethics, and prioritize a humanistic approach while remaining firm in enforcing the law.”
Bali Security Update
The assembly was attended by Bali’s Governor Wayan Koster, who shared that firm action must be taken against those foreigners found to be violating the law and threatening public safety. He explained, “If the identification has been carried out and a violation of the law is found, it can be immediately processed by immigration with deportation or other forms of punishment.”
Governor Koster added, “This affirmation is necessary because in recent times, incidents have frequently occurred that have disturbed the comfort and security of Bali, related to the existence and existence of tourism in Bali, with foreign nationals as the perpetrators.”
So what does this mean for tourists traveling to Bali? Since the vast majority of the foreigners in Bali not only abide by Indonesian law but also go above and beyond to respect local culture, there is nothing to worry about or do differently.
Tourists traveling to Bali’s top tourism resorts can expect to see more officers out on patrol, whether this is members of the Dharma Dewata Task Force, Village Guidance Immigration Officers, officials from Bali Immigration, Bali Police, and local security teams.
It is a timely moment to remind tourists that they are expected to carry their passport and stay permit on them at all times, or at very least a copy, in the event that an official conducts a spot check.
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