Department of Immigration and Emigration has stated that the Department aims to deport 15,000 illegal immigrants to their respective countries this year.
Speaking to Vnews, the Media and Information Officer and Chief Principal of Immigration, Hassan Haleel, stated that the Department would be using different tactics this year to find such immigrants. He added that spot checks will be performed in public places and roads.
Immigration reports that presently 1,172 immigrants have been deported. Haleel stated that action has also been taken against those who employ such people, as well. He said that 12 people have been penalized, while 160 were penalized last year.
Immigration records show that there are 90,000 registered workers working in Maldives, while an additional 35,000 reside illegally. Haleel stated that the Department was working to ensure either that these illegal immigrants are duly processed or sent back home. He added that he hoped that the issue would be resolved during this year.
He also noted the risk of diseases spreading from some immigrants and highlighted that the health screening process needs to be upgraded. Haleel stated that the rules would be tightened to state that only government approved hospitals can screen immigrants. He further stated that the Department was seeking the assistance of International Organization for Migration (IOM) in this project.
Last year the Department had pledged to deport 10,000 illegal immigrants. However, at the end of the year only 8,700 had been deported.