http://www.scieclouds.com/ojsnew/index.php/jc <p><strong>Journal Social Civilecial ISSN (2988-0181)</strong> covers all the areas of research activities in all fields of Social Sciences including Anthropology, Public Administration, Communication studies, History, Law, Linguistics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Gender Studies, Information Science, Legal Management, Library Science, Political Economy, etc. Journal Civilecial conducts a double-blind review process in its production process. the journal is published by Pemuda Peduli Publikasi Insan Ilmiah Scieclouds Publishing of one volume a year.</p> en-US Journal Social Civilecial 2988-0181 http://www.scieclouds.com/ojsnew/index.php/jc/article/view/1108 <p>Nunukan Regency, located on the Indonesia–Malaysia border, is a strategic transit area for Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) but is highly vulnerable to undocumented migration, human trafficking, people smuggling, and violations of migrant workers’ rights. This study examines the diplomatic role of the Nunukan Resort Police (Polres Nunukan) in handling migrant workers and identifies the challenges encountered in border governance. The research employs an empirical legal approach using statutory and sociological methods. Primary data were collected through interviews with officers from Polres Nunukan and the Center for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (BP3MI), while secondary data were obtained from legislation, books, scientific journals, and relevant documents. The findings reveal that Polres Nunukan adopts a collaborative diplomatic approach by strengthening coordination and communication with BP3MI, the Immigration Office, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), local government, and other stakeholders to enhance prevention, supervision, law enforcement, and legal protection for migrant workers. Major challenges include extensive border areas, numerous unofficial crossing routes, limited personnel and infrastructure, high migrant mobility, and inadequate public awareness of legal migration procedures. To address these issues, Polres Nunukan intensifies inter-agency cooperation, strengthens border patrols and surveillance, expands public education on safe migration, and takes firm legal action against human trafficking and illegal recruitment networks. The study concludes that effective protection of Indonesian migrant workers in border regions requires not only strong law enforcement but also sustained institutional collaboration to ensure comprehensive legal protection and improve border governance.</p> Citra Handayani Situmorang Copyright (c) 2026 Journal Social Civilecial http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ 2026-08-22 2026-08-22 4 2