PUTRAJAYA: The Immigration Department has intensified its nationwide enforcement efforts against illegal immigrants, detaining 36,900 foreign nationals in the first six months of this year.
Immigration director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said the arrests were made during 6,237 enforcement operations carried out across the country between Jan 1 and June 30.
During the same period, a total of 84,464 individuals were screened, while 978 employers were also detained for allegedly committing offences under the Immigration Act.
"In June alone, we conducted 1,154 operations nationwide involving inspections on 13,078 individuals," he told reporters on Friday (July 10).
"From that number, 4,093 foreign nationals were detained, while 133 employers were also arrested for suspected immigration-related offences."
Zakaria said the most common offences detected among those detained were failing to possess valid travel documents or passes, followed by misuse of passes issued to them.
On the issue of Rohingya refugees, which has again come under the spotlight, Zakaria said the department would continue with its enforcement operations as usual. Any immigration action would depend on the documentation status of the individuals involved.
He explained that most Rohingya refugees in the country possess cards issued by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). As such, they cannot be subjected to immigration action for offences such as not having a valid pass or overstaying.
"However, they are still subject to other laws," he said. "If they commit criminal offences or breach any other laws, action can still be taken by the relevant enforcement agencies."
He added that the department would work with local authorities to carry out enforcement operations if Rohingya refugees were found engaging in activities such as illegal roadside trading.
