Saturday
27th Jul 2024
Dhivehi Edition
Controller General of Immigration Shamaan Waheed. | Photo: TMJ
More than 900 illegal immigrants have been deported so far, Controller General of Immigration Shamaan Waheed has said.
Replying to a question from a journalist at a joint press conference held on the 27th of March, Controller General Shamaan said that by the time President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu took over the government, the work to solve the problem of illegal immigrants had come to a complete halt.
"When we took over the government and tried to start this work, it was very much at a standstill. In other words, nothing has been done to reduce or deport illegal immigrants during the previous administration,” Shamaan explained.
However, the government has resumed the work, and now two or three major raid operations are conducted every week. Shamaan said the detention center can take foreigners into custody according to its capacity.
"They are being moved and deported. It is difficult to say the exact number of illegal immigrants who have been deported. However, there are more than 900 illegal immigrants who have been deported,” Shamaan explained.
The issue of illegal immigrants has been a threat to national security for many years. So, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has said he will solve the problem by the end of his five years.