Maldives Immigration has inspected 14 locations and detained 66 irregular migrants.
The latest statistics show that Immigration has conducted raid operations at 14 locations and detained 66 expatriates, which includes 65 Bangladeshi nationals and one Indian national. Expatriates who were initially brought into the country to fulfill a specific occupation are strictly prohibited from engaging in any other form of work, according to immigration regulations. As such, officials inspected various work sites including expatriate catering services in Male’ and Hulhumale’. Immigration stated that the majority of workers were irregular migrants and that the catering sites were unhygienic, adding that legal action will be taken against them and their employers.
The migrants are temporarily being held in the detention centre where necessary documentation can be gathered before returning them to their home country. Immigration stated that officials are continuing their search for irregular migrants and advised expatriate workers to always carry their work permit cards.
The government resumed its efforts to deport irregular migrants in the Maldives in June. The operation is being carried out by the Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Maldives Immigration. The decision to recommence the operation follows the establishment of the expatriate detention centre in Hulhumale', which has the capacity to accommodate approximately 250-300 individuals.
Immigration stated that the authorities have been actively involved in the operation, dispatching officials to various gathering places where immigrants are known to reside. Through systematic questioning and investigation, those found to be living in the Maldives illegally are being identified and apprehended. Subsequently, the relevant authorities are working to expedite the deportation process for these individuals, ensuring their prompt removal from the country.
The operation is part of a broader strategy to address the growing issue of undocumented expatriates in the Maldives. These cases also involve expatriate recruitment agencies confiscating their passports and work permits upon their arrival, making it difficult for authorities to gather the necessary information to repatriate them to their country of origin. However, the establishment of the Hulhumale’ detention centre is expected to expedite the process. In 2022, the government reported that around 43,000 expatriates were registered as undocumented, and significant efforts were made to repatriate over 20,000 of them.