Maldives deports over 30 irregular expats

Maldives Immigration has deported over 30 irregular expatriates detained by the agency as part of a crackdown on illegal immigration.

In a post on X on Friday, Immigration said the latest batch of irregular expatriates were deported on Thursday.

“This action underscores the continuous efforts to ensure compliance with immigration laws. We advise all expats living in the country to adhere strictly to these regulations,” added the agency.

As part of the ongoing removal process of illegal expats, more than 30 of the illegal expats detained by Immigration were deported yesterday. This action underscores the continuous efforts to ensure compliance with immigration laws. We advise all expats living in the country to… pic.twitter.com/fPu0lSPoWk

— Maldives Immigration (@ImmigrationMV) September 20, 2024

However, the agency did not specify the nationalities of the deportees, nor did it disclose the specific number.

Immigration detained more irregular expatriates in multiple raids in Male’ on Thursday.

This includes raids on crowded and unsafe accommodation blocks in Male’ City.

One of the raids was on Kalhuhuraage in the Henveiru district of Male’. Immigration detained nine irregular expatriates in the raid. According to the agency, this includes six expatriates on the run from their employers.

ޓާސްކު ފޯސް އަށް ލިބުނު މަޢުލޫމާތެއްގެ އަލީގައި، ރޭގައި ވަނީ ހ. ކަޅުހުރާގެ ބަލައި ފާސްކޮށްފައި. މިތަނަކީ ވެސް އާންމު ސަލާމަތާއި ރައްކާތެރިކަމަށް ނުރައްކާވާގޮތަށް ބިދޭސީން ދިރިއުޅެމުން ދިއަ ތަނެއް.

މިތަނުގައި ދިރިއުޅެމުންދިއަ ބިދޭސީންގެ ތެރެއިން ގަވާއިދާ ހިލާފަށް އުޅެމުންދިއަ… pic.twitter.com/8dHhgV7ClM

— Maldives Immigration (@ImmigrationMV) September 20, 2024

The second raid was on another accommodation block in Henveiru district, during which Immigration detained five irregular expatriates.

ޓާސްކު ފޯސް އަށް ލިބިފައިވާ މަޢުލޫމާތަކާއި ގުޅިގެން އާންމު ސަލާމަތާއި ރައްކާތެރިކަމަށް ނުރައްކާވާގޮތަށް ބިދޭސީން ދިރިއުޅެމުން ދިއަ ތަނެއް ރޭގެ ވަގުތެއްގައި ވަނީ ބަލައި ފާސްކޮށްފައި. މާލޭގެ ހެންވޭރަށް ނިސްބަތްވާ މި ގޭގައި ދިރިއުޅެމުންދިއަ ބިދޭސީންގެ ތެރެއިން ގަވާއިދާ ހިލާފަށް… pic.twitter.com/QQHJ95wKiQ

— Maldives Immigration (@ImmigrationMV) September 20, 2024

Immigration is also conducting a special inspection targeting salon and spa businesses run in Male' area to ensure that expatriate workers there are compliant with the Immigration Act.

The agency, with the assistance of Police Intelligence, inspected a total of 22 such establishments. Seven irregular female expatriate workers were detained, and notices were issued to seven employers.

Highlights from the special inspection targeting salon and spa businesses run in Male' area to ensure that expats there were compliant with the Immigration Act 1/2007.
A total of 22 places were inspected, and 7 foreign women were detained while notices have been issued to 7… pic.twitter.com/b31jSdJ6pm

— Maldives Immigration (@ImmigrationMV) September 20, 2024

Over 3,000 irregular expatriates have been deported as part of the crackdown.