Nearly 18,000 Immigration Detainees Held Nationwide, Says Home Minister

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is holding a total of 17,896 undocumented migrants (PATI) in immigration detention centers as of July 6, 2025, according to Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

In a written reply to Syerleena Abdul Rashid (PH–Bukit Bendera), Saifuddin said the detainees are accommodated across 20 Immigration Department facilities, comprising 18 permanent depots and two temporary depots.

He added that six child detention facilities, known as Baitul Mahabbah, are in operation for foreign minors. The combined holding capacity of all immigration detention centers stands at 21,530 individuals.

“At any given time, the number of detainees ranges between 16,000 and 18,000, depending on the volume of arrests and deportations,” he said.

Breaking down the detainee demographics, Saifuddin said men make up 78% (13,992 individuals) of the current population, while women account for 22% (3,974).

Four nationalities comprise 90.7% of all detainees, led by Myanmar with 7,453 people, followed by Indonesia (3,817) and Bangladesh (1,136). A total of 4,719 detainees are Rohingya from Myanmar.

The average detention period ranges from zero to three years, he noted, adding that none of the detainees currently held are United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) cardholders.