Immigration Department Arrests 92,360 Undocumented Migrants in 2025 Crackdown

In 2025, Malaysia’s Immigration Department arrested a total of 92,360 undocumented migrants for various offences under the Immigration Act. The department conducted 13,910 operations across the country, inspecting 239,326 individuals and arresting 2,163 employers for related violations.

Undocumented Migrants

Deputy director-general (Operations) Datuk Lokman Effendi Ramli revealed that operations were largely intelligence-led and prompted by public complaints. As of January 17, 2026, over 500 operations had already resulted in 1,760 migrant arrests and 35 employer detentions. Authorities urged the public and employers not to harbour undocumented individuals, warning of legal consequences, and encouraged tips to aid enforcement efforts. Photo: HRW

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