Karanganyar, Central Java. Indonesian authorities have deported 20 Chinese nationals found working illegally as construction laborers without proper permits in Sragen Regency, Central Java. The group was arrested for violating immigration regulations after an inspection revealed they were employed on a factory construction project without valid work authorization.

The information was confirmed by Is Eko Edy Putranto, Head of the Central Java Regional Office of the Directorate General of Immigration, during a press conference in Solo on Monday.

“Out of 21 individuals taken into custody, 20 were found guilty of violating immigration laws, while one was released after it was determined there had been no violation,” Is Eko said. Of the 20 deported workers, 19 are men and one is a woman.

According to officials, immigration officers detained the Chinese nationals during a document inspection at the end of June 2025. Some of the workers had reportedly been in Indonesia for more than 30 days without the appropriate permits.

Following their detention, the workers were transported by bus to the Solo Immigration Office for further investigation.

The deportation process was carried out under tight security. The workers were escorted overland to Juanda International Airport in Sidoarjo, East Java, from where they were flown back to China aboard a China Southern Airlines flight.

In addition to deportation, the Chinese nationals have been banned from re-entering Indonesia in accordance with prevailing immigration laws.