Home Minister Pledges to Resolve Illegal Immigration Within Three Years

Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusaan has committed to resolving the issue of illegal immigrants in the Maldives within the next three years. 

Speaking at the launch of the ‘Naares Portal’, which connects the Department of National Registration (DNR) with local councils, Ihsan outlined the government’s strategy to tackle the problem.

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At the ceremony, Ihusaan announced a one-year deadline to identify all foreigners living illegally in the Maldives. The newly launched Naares Portal is expected to play a crucial role in the Home Ministry’s efforts. Ihsaan revealed that advanced fingerprint machines, capable of capturing all ten fingerprints simultaneously, would be distributed to island councils. 

These machines will be utilised in the Kurangi operations to address the challenges posed by illegal foreigners. They will facilitate the collection and storage of biometric data from foreigners residing in rural areas.

Ihusaan explained that the councils will maintain a register of foreigners living on each island. This register will simplify the identification of suspected illegal immigrants. When a council member photographs a foreigner, they will be able to determine the individual’s purpose in the Maldives, their employer, and their visa payment status. 

If necessary, individuals can be brought before the council for fingerprinting, ensuring records are maintained. The police will also be able to identify foreigners through these photographs.

The Immigration Department and the police are conducting a special operation named ‘Kurangi’, targeting human trafficking and illegal business activities by foreigners in the Maldives. According to the latest data from the Immigration Department, over 2,000 foreigners have been deported as part of this operation.