Indonesia-Malaysia Cooperation In Handling Illegal Immigrants: From The Perspective of International Law and Human Rights Protection
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.30997/jill.v18i1.22042Keywords:
Illegal Immigrants, International Law, Human Rights, Bilateral Cooperation, Indonesia–MalaysiaAbstract
The phenomenon of illegal immigrants in Southeast Asia, particularly in the Indonesia-Malaysia corridor, poses serious challenges related to legal, security, and human rights issues. The complexity of this problem arises from differences in national regulations, weak cross-border surveillance, and high economic pressures that drive irregular migration. This study aims to analyze the extent to which bilateral cooperation between Indonesia and Malaysia in handling illegal immigrants is in accordance with international law and human rights protection principles. The method used is a normative juridical approach, examining international legal instruments such as the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (1990), ICCPR, ICESCR, and various bilateral Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) between the two countries. The results of the study show that, normatively, Indonesia-Malaysia cooperation has referred to international legal standards that emphasize humane treatment, the principle of non-refoulement, and the protection of the basic rights of migrants. However, operationally, its implementation still faces obstacles in the form of weak inter-agency coordination, limited resources, and a lack of independent oversight. These conditions have led to continued human rights violations, particularly in the form of arbitrary detention and limited access to basic services for undocumented migrants. Thus, strengthening monitoring mechanisms, training officers, and involving international organizations are necessary for this cooperation to be more effective, humane, and sustainable in accordance with the principles of international law.
Downloads
References
Anggriani, Riri. (2017). Perlindungan hukum bagi irregular migrant workers Indonesia di kawasan Asia Tenggara (dalam perspektif hukum ham internasional). Yurdika 32(2). https://doi.org/10.20473/ydk.v32i2.4773.
Arifin, Ridwan, Eva Achjani Zulfa, Margaretha Hanita, and Arthur Josias Simon Runturambi. (2024). Unveiling Indonesia’s Migration and Border Governance: Challenges and Imperatives Post-Pandemic. Social Sciences and Humanities Open 10, 4, 101202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2024.101202.
Arsya, Shonia, Zulkifli Harza, and Maryam Jamilah. (2024). Perlindungan Pekerja Migran Indonesia Di Malaysia Pasca Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU ) Tahun 2022 Dalam Kerangka Keamanan Manusia 3, 3(2): PALITO (Politics, Humanities, Laws, International Relations and Social) 231–52. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.25077/palito.v3i02.170.
B.Pawe, Zahran Hilman Salim, Seniwati Seniwati. (2025). Kerja Sama Keamanan Indonesia Dan Malaysia Dalam Mengatasi Imigran Ilegal Di Pulau Sebatik. Konstitusi Jurnal Hukum, Administrasi Publik Dan Ilmu Komunikasi 2(3). https://doi.org/10.62383/konstitusi.v2i3.792.
Fitri, Anggi Rachma Zakia, Jakarta, and Heru Sugiyono. (2023). Strategi Penanganan Pekerja Migran Indonesia Yang Bekerja Tidak Sesuai Dengan Kontrak Kerja. JURNAL USM LAW REVIEW 6(3). https://doi.org/10.26623/julr.v6i3.7568.
Gustri Eni Putri, Vanny El Rahman, Kemal Al Kautsar Mabruri. (2025). Implementation of Protection for Indonesian Migrant Workers in Malaysia in 2022-2023. DAULIYAH Journal of Islamic and International Relations 10(1). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.21111/dauliyah.v10i1.13904.
Hasan, Rizki Setia Damayanti, Ani Wijayati, and Edward M. L Panjaitan. (2024). Analisis Kebijakan Rekalibrasi Tenaga Kerja Di Malaysia Untuk Pekerja Migran Indonesia Ilegal Berdasarkan Memorandum of Understanding Indonesia Dan Malaysia 1 April. Jurnal Kolaboratif Sains 7, 7(4). https://doi.org/10.56338/jks.v7i4.3814.
Jones, Katharine. (2022). A ‘North Star’ in Governing Global Labour Migration? The ILO and the Fair Recruitment Initiative. SageJournals 22(2). https://doi.org/10.1177/14680181221084792.
Junaidi, Muhammad, and Khikmah Khikmah. (2024) . Perlindungan Hukum Dan Penempatan Pekerja Migran Indonesia Di Luar Negeri. JURNAL USM LAW REVIEW 7(1). https://doi.org/10.26623/julr.v7i1.8127.
Kim, Diana, and Yuhki Tajima. (2022) . Smuggling and Border Enforcement. Cambridge University Press 76(4). https://doi.org/10.1017/S002081832200011X.
Martin, Yosia, and Arthur Josias Simon Runturambi. (2024) . Upaya Pencegahan Pekerja Migran Indonesia (PMI) Nonprosedural Sebagai Bagian Perdagangan Orang Melalui Pengawasan Keimigrasian. Syntax Literate: Jurnal Ilmiah Indonesia 9(5). https://doi.org/10.36418/syntax-literate.v9i5.15738.
Mohd. Mizan Bin Mohammad Aslam, Febianto. (2025). Analysis of Malaysia’s Policy Towards Indonesian Illegal Immigrants 2020 - 2023. POLITEIA JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND POLITICAL SCIENCE AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 3(4). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.61978/politeia.v3i4.808.
Mohd Nadzim Ajis, Aqmal Reza Amri, Andi Luhur Prianto. (2023). “Governance and Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers in Malaysia. Journal of Southeast Asian Human Rights 7. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.19184/jseahr.v7i2.44185.
Nofely, Abdallah Mohamed Othman El. (2021) . Beyond Borders: Migrants’ and Refugees’ Rights and Protection Under the Veil of International Law. Supremasi Hukum Jurnal Kajian Ilmu Hukum 10(1). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.14421/sh.v10i1.2340.
Romadhona, Mochamad Kevin, Sri Endah Kinasih, and Rachmat Dimas Oktafenanda. (2025). Labor Migration Policy in ASEAN States. International Law Discourse in Southeast Asia 4(1). https://doi.org/10.15294/ildisea.v4i1.23485.
Sianipar, Imelda Masni Juniaty. (2014). Legalisasi Deklarasi HAM ASEAN. Jurnal Hubungan Internasional 3(1). https://doi.org/10.18196/hi.2014.0047.58-67.
Suparno Suparno, Zudan Arief Fakrulloh, Tessar Bayu Setyaji. (2023). Implementation of Legal Policy in Indonesia in Handling Illegal Immigrants. Jurnal Indonesia Sosial Sains (JISS) 4(5). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.59141/jiss.v4i05.813.
Valencia, Elizabeth M. (2012). Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Encyclopedia of Immigrant Health, 1462–63. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-5659-0_790.
Wibowo, Pascalis Danny Kristi, Razilu Razilu, and Ade Yulfianto. (2025). IMPLEMENTASI KEBIJAKAN KEIMIGRASIAN TERHADAP PERLINDUNGAN PEKERJA MIGRAN INDONESIA. JURNAL ILMIAH KAJIAN KEIMIGRASIAN POLTEKIM 8(2). https://doi.org/10.52617/jikk.v8i2.795.
Zibetti, Fabíola Wust, Eveline Vieira Brigido. (2020). PROTECTION OF FORCED MIGRANTS WITH IRREGULAR STATUS DURING THE PANDEMIC GENERATED BY COVID-19: AN ANALISYS OF THE INTER-AMERICAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS ON MIGRANTS’ RIGHTS. Novos Estudos Juridicos 25(3). https://doi.org/10.14210/nej.v25n3.p757-773.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 JURNAL ILMIAH LIVING LAW
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with Jurnal Ilmiah Living Law agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in Jurnal Ilmiah Living Law.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in Jurnal Ilmiah Living Law.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work
