Catholic bishops in East Nusa Tenggara, a Christian-majority province in Indonesia, have committed to helping stop illegal migration and human trafficking, which have claimed many lives in the region. The bishops made this promise during a pastoral assembly held in Flores from July 1 to July 5, where they met to discuss how the Church can support efforts to promote safe and legal migration.
Archbishop Paulus Budi Kleden of Ende spoke at a press conference at the end of the meeting, reminding the public that while migration is a right, it should be done legally. He warned that illegal migration often leads to migrants being exploited, living in fear, and falling into the hands of traffickers. “Illegal migrants are easily blackmailed,” he said, calling for better public education on the importance of traveling with complete legal documents.
The bishops agreed to work with the government by spreading awareness at the parish level. They pledged to use Church resources to educate people on what documents they need to migrate safely. Archbishop Kleden called migrants “blessings,” noting that many migrants have helped build churches and support their children’s education. The bishops believe that tackling poverty and lack of opportunity in East Nusa Tenggara is also key to stopping dangerous migration.
The provincial government also welcomed the Church’s support. Governor Melkiades Laka Lena said the province would work closely with Church leaders to reduce trafficking and unsafe migration. He announced several new steps, including increasing one-stop migration service centers from one to four and launching a digital Information and Complaint System to help the public report cases of trafficking more easily.
The governor added that a new task force will be formed to prevent and respond to human trafficking cases. This task force will include traditional leaders, community figures, and religious organizations. He also said the province has placed a temporary ban on sending domestic workers abroad until they can receive better training and support, to make sure they are safe and properly prepared.
East Nusa Tenggara is one of the poorest provinces in Indonesia and has long struggled with human trafficking. According to the National Human Rights Commission, hundreds of people are sent illegally to other parts of Indonesia and neighboring Malaysia every year. Many of them never return home. Between 2018 and 2022, at least 516 migrant workers from the province died in Malaysia, and 499 of them were undocumented, according to the Indonesian Migrant Workers’ Protection Agency.
The same agency revealed that in 2023, 124 migrant bodies were returned to East Nusa Tenggara, and in the first half of 2025, 75 more bodies arrived. A majority of these migrants were women, and only 5 out of the 75 were documented migrants, showing how widespread the illegal migration problem remains. Legal advisor Yohas Bahan confirmed that 70 of the 75 workers who died this year had no proper documents.
Human rights activist Gabriel Goa Sola, who leads the group Advocacy Service for Justice and Peace in Indonesia, said the pledges from Church and government leaders must lead to real action. He urged people to reflect on the seriousness of the problem, especially in a region that has strong Christian values. “We should be ashamed,” he said, pointing out that the issue has persisted for years despite the religious influence in the area.
As more families grieve the loss of loved ones due to unsafe migration, both the Church and the government in East Nusa Tenggara are taking steps to stop the cycle of exploitation. The hope is that through better education, stronger cooperation, and more job opportunities, people in the region will no longer feel the need to risk their lives by migrating without proper protection.