PUTRAJAYA: The Immigration Department has deported 19,700 illegal immigrants to their respective home countries as of May 14.
Immigration director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban (pic) said the deportations involved detainees placed at immigration depots after being found to have committed various offences under immigration laws and regulations.
“The five highest nationalities deported were Indonesians with 7,936 individuals, followed by Myanmar nationals (4,005), Bangladeshis (2,453), Filipinos (1,825) and Thais (1,008),” he told reporters this after attending the Immigration Department’s Excellent Service Award ceremony here on Tuesday (May 19).
Zakaria said the department had intensified enforcement operations this year, carrying out 4,785 operations nationwide as of May 15.
He added that the operations involved inspections on 69,406 individuals, with 16,681 foreigners detained for various immigration offences.
“Action was also taken against 737 employers nationwide for immigration-related offences,” he said.
Zakaria said the figures showed that the department would not compromise on any violations of immigration laws.
“A total of 20,575 detainees are currently placed at permanent immigration depots, while another 1,470 detainees are being held at temporary immigration depots pending documentation processes and further action under existing laws,” he said.
