KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 272 operations resulting in 1,789 detentions of undocumented migrants have been conducted in the city by the Immigration Department this year.
Its Kuala Lumpur director Wan Mohammed Saupee Wan Yusoff said those detained were the result of checks on 3,587 foreigners from Jan 1 up to Tuesday (May 20).
The department also collected RM4.59mil in compounds during the same period, he added.
"The operations are conducted daily without fail, as our priority is enforcement to safeguard the nation's security and sovereignty.
"We also detained 68 local and foreign employers for hiring undocumented migrants," he told a press conference at KL Immigration headquarters on Wednesday (May 21).
"We also opened 1,551 investigation papers for various offences, including overstaying and abuse of passes.
"Among the highest number of detainees were those from Indonesia, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Pakistan," he said.
On the Migrant Repatriation Programme 2.0, Wan Mohammed Saupee said 96 people have signed up so far since the start of the programme on Monday (May 19).
"We also collected RM26,840 in compounds and special passes," he added.
