83 expats detained in weekend raid; those deported rise above 1,800

Maldives Immigration Service says that 83 expatriates were detained for non-compliance with the Maldives’ laws in Saturday’s operation, with the number of expatriates deported from the country now above 1,800.

In a statement on Sunday, Immigration described the weekend operation as “the largest raid carried out this year to combat the issue of illegal expatriates.”

The joint operation by the Immigration and the police targeted expatriates working illegally at the Local Market and three other similar markets across the capital, Male’ City.

“A total of 83 expatriates working non-compliantly were detained,” said Immigration, adding that the agency is working on deporting them.

This year's largest raid operation was conducted yesterday, jointly with the @PoliceMv to combat the issue of illegal expatriates.

Read more: https://t.co/xAvt1JGq1l@min_mohst @HomeMinistrymv @ShamaanW pic.twitter.com/mQhvOm63HD

— Maldives Immigration (@ImmigrationMV) June 30, 2024

Immigration said that those detained include expatriates without a valid visa, as well as those working in a place of work outside the scope of their permit, and those running their own businesses outside the scope of their permits.

Illegal migration remains a longstanding issue in the Maldives.

The Home Ministry has established a national taskforce to address the issue of illegal migration.

Immigration said on Sunday that the ‘National Task Force on Combating Illegal Expatriate Operations,’ has now deported more than 1,800 expatriates.

The Home Ministry has also launched a special operation under the name ‘Kurangi’, in a crackdown on illegal migration.

The biometrics of over 1,500 migrants have been collected under the operation.

At a session of the ‘Ahaa’ public forum back in April, Home Minister Ali Ihusan said the issue of illegal migration will be resolved in three years.

He said that the collection of biometric data of migrants was just phase one of the operation, and will wrap up within one year.

He said that once the data on all migrants are collected and entered into a system, the government will then regularize all undocumented migrants.

Ihusan warned that those who fail to make use of the opportunity will be deported.

However, he stressed that the goal is not to arrest and deport migrants, but to give them a chance to get regularized.