09/04/2026
News release
08 April 2026
PNG Immigration is aware of a “misconduct” allegation on social media and will address it administratively.
The Papua New Guinea Immigration and Citizenship Service Authority (ICSA) has acknowledged the receipt of a complaint raised by a citizen accusing an Immigration Officer for “professional misconduct” and is aware that the same allegation is circulating on social media this week.
The complainant alleged that the officer threatened to cancel his PNG passport and further made reference to cancel his visa into another country.
ICSA is aware of the ongoing personal differences expressed in the social media between the two individuals and wishes to distance itself from their online exchanges. However, ICSA takes
all allegations of misconduct against the Authority or an officer of the Authority very seriously and we will take appropriate steps to address them administratively through the Public Service
code of conduct and ICSA HR Policy.
In response to the allegations of professional misconduct by the officer, ICSA wishes to state that the alleged statement by the officer is inappropriate and misleading. This is not how we
conduct our compliance and enforcement business under the laws that we administer. It is a misrepresentation of the ‘Authority’, the Chief Migration Officer and the Minister for Immigration
and Border Security.
Work performed by any ICSA officer is strictly governed by the relevant laws we administer, and all legal authority vested in an officer must be exercised with utmost responsibility and in
a transparent and accountable manner.
On the alleged threats by an officer to cancel a PNG passport, we want to inform our citizens that only the Minister responsible for the administration of the PNG Passport Act has the legal
powers to refuse an application for a PNG passport or cancel a valid PNG passport that has been issued to a citizen. Even these powers by the Minister must be exercised responsibly.
APPROVED FOR RELEASE