1,422 foreigners deported from Jan-June for immigration violations – BI

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said Friday it deported more than 1,400 foreigners from January to June this year for violating the country’s immigration laws.

Data from the BI showed a total of 1,422 foreigners were expelled from the country for violating immigration laws—a significant increase from the 717 deportees reported during the same period last year.

Of the deportees, 231 were Vietnamese, 41 were South Koreans, 41 were Malaysians, and 37 were Burmese. The majority of the deportees were foreigners found to be working in Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) firms despite the ban.

“Our strengthened deportation protocols follow the directive of the President to act swiftly and remove foreigners who abuse our people’s hospitality,” said BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado.

“We will continue expediting the deportation of foreign nationals who violate our laws,” he added.

Viado earlier reported improvements in deportation protocols, including fast-tracking clearances in partnership with the National Bureau of Investigation, immediate resolution of cases suspected to be filed under the ''demanda me'' scheme, regular coordination with embassies for swift issuance of travel documents, and opening of a new holding facility for arrested aliens.

2 Sudanese nabbed

Meanwhile, immigration authorities apprehended two Sudanese in San Carlos City, Pangasinan, for violating the country’s immigration measures.

Identified as Moneeb Ahmed Mohamed Yousif, 32, and Zaki Azhari Elzubair Basheer, 41, the suspects were arrested in a residence along M. Soriano St. on Tuesday, July 22. They are now detained at the BI detention facility in Taguig while awaiting deportation proceedings.

An initial investigation showed the BI intelligence personnel launched an operation against Moneed after he was found to be staying in the country despite allegedly failing to update his visa. Zaki, meanwhile, was accused of harboring the illegal alien, violating the Philippine immigration laws.

The suspects failed to present valid passports or travel documents during the arrest, rendering them undocumented foreign nationals.

''During the arrest, Basheer resisted and hurled expletives at the operatives. While in the premises of the San Carlos City Police Station, he requested to use the restroom but attempted to escape through the back of the building. He was immediately pursued and recaptured by BI agents,'' the BI said. —VBL, GMA Integrated News