Biometric data collected from almost 19,000 expatriates

Biometric data has been collected from almost 19,000 expatriates as part of an operation launched to collect information of expatriates residing in the Maldives.

‘Operation Kurangi’ was launched by the Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology on March 2nd. It was launched under phase one of efforts to permanently resolve the longstanding issue of illegal migration in the Maldives.

State Minister for Homeland Security Abdul Majeedh Ibrahim said biometric data have been collected from 18,919 expatriates so far as part of this operation. The operation has been initiated at 194 islands, with work completed in 50 of them.

Fingerprints of expatriates are collected under this operation and it is ensured that they are in employment in the Maldives in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations.

Prior to this, Minster for Homeland Security Ali Ihusan has stated a registry of expatriates will be compiled with the information gathered under this operation.

While the government targets to resolve of illegal migration in the Maldives within three years, the collection of biometric data of migrants was just phase one of the operation, and will wrap up within one year.

Once the data on all migrants are collected and entered into a system, the government, instead of taking action against them, will provide undocumented migrants with the opportunity to regularize. Those who fail to make use of this opportunity will be deported in collaboration with the embassies of the respective nation.

Homeland Ministry, in collaboration with Maldives Police Service and Maldives Immigration, is undertaking significant efforts to resolve the issue of illegal migration. Over 5,000 expatriates have been deported over the course of this year as part of these efforts.