Sabah

Tawau Temporary Immigration Depot

Malaysia

Status

In use

2025

Type: Immigration detention centre (Administrative)

Custodial Authority: Federal Task Force of Sabah

Management: Federal Special Task Force (Governmental)

Detains: Undocumented migrants (administrative)

Capacity Deaths at facility Conditions complaints?
800
Yes

YES

2022

Malaysia

18,000

Average Daily Migrant Detainee Population

3,211

Detained Women

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FACILITY NAMES
Tawau Temporary Immigration Depot
Location

Country: Malaysia

City & Region: Sabah, Asia-Pacific

Latitude, Longitude: 4.249592, 117.8815

MANAGEMENT & BUDGET

Center Status
Status
Year
In use
2025
In use
2021
Last documented use
2011
In use
2007
Facility type
Category
Type
Year
Administrative
Immigration detention centre
2007
Management
Management
Type
Year
Federal Special Task Force
Governmental
2015
Pasukan Petugas Khas Persekutuan Negeri Sabah
Governmental
2007
Custodial Authorities
Agency
Ministry
Ministry type
Year
Federal Task Force of Sabah
2015

DETAINEES

Categories of detainees

Undocumented migrants (administrative)

2007

SIZE & POPULATION

Capacity (specialised migration-related facility)

Type Standard capacity

Capacity 800

2007
Reports of Detainee Overpopulation at Facility

Yes

2022

LENGTH OF DETENTION

OUTCOMES

CONDITIONS

Inadequate conditions
Inadequate Conditions
Obvs. Date
2022
2022
2022
2022
2022
2022
2022
2022
2022

CARCERAL INDICATORS

STAFF

SEGREGATION

CELLS

At Least Three Square Meters Per Detainee

At Least Three Square Meters Per Detainee No

2022
Equipped (beds, tables, shelves, chairs)

Equipped (beds, tables, shelves, chairs) No

2022
Detainees Per Cell

Number 260

2022

COMMUNAL SPACE & ACTIVITIES

Hours Outdoor Space Accessible
2022

HEALTH

Doctor on Duty

Frequency No Doctor on Duty

2022
Nurse on Duty

Frequency No Nurse on Duty

2022
Inadequate health provisions
Inadequate Health Provisions
Obvs. Date
Health screeningsDoctorsNursesChildren's healthGender-specific careMedicationSexual & reproductive healthPromotion of personal health and hygiene
2022
Barriers to care
Barriers to Care
Obvs. Date
Patient forced to pay for careUnsanitary/inadequate detention conditionsInadequate food or water provision
2022
Reports of Deaths
Name of deceased individual
Date of death
N.A.
Health Impacts
Health Impacts
Obvs. Date
DeathsIllness
2022

MONITORING & ACCESS

TELECOMMUNICATIONS