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No plan to offer another amnesty

Speaking to Khaleej Times on Monday, Brigadier Hadhir Khalaf Al Muhairi, Director-General of Naturalisation and Residency said, "There are no plans whatsoever to grant any further pardon. We have given illegal immigrants enough time to leave and those who did not avail of the amnesty which had been extended twice and thrice are to blame themselves for their irresponsible attitude."

The government had given a four-month grace period for illegals to leave on January 1 this year, following the 1996 general pardon under which hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants had departed.

As it was noticed that many were left behind and could not meet the deadline of April 30, the pardon had been extended twice according to a ministerial decision approved by the federal cabinet. The grace period expired on June 30. However, many are believed to be expecting another amnesty, relying on rumours propagated by some circles. While waiting, illegal immigrants still work illegally to make a living or earn some money before they are caught by immigration squads who have stepped up their crackdown after expiry of the amnesty.

Some were forced to stay behind to settle their dues, collect debts, or sell unwanted items.

The authorities urged those who did not avail of the opportunity to approach the immigration departments to at least avoid tougher penalties and rid themselves of the state of panic they are experiencing.

"With the intensified crackdown, those who are left behind must be in a constant state of panic. It is definitely better for these to leave the country rather than living a nightmare," Brig. Muhairi said.

Warning that legal action would be taken against those who are still staying in violation of the federal law on entry and residence of foreigners for 1996, which stipulates stringent penalties for offenders, he said a three-level operation had been launched including daily inspection raids to crack down on illegal workers at shops, companies and establishments, inspection raids on residential units of illegal immigrants, carried out in cooperation with the General Directorates of Police, and large-scale central raids on suspected locations about which immigration authorities receive information that they provide shelter to illegals such as farms, labour camps, workshops and factories.

Under the immigration rules, any foreigner caught working with an employer other than his/her original sponsor would be deported and banned for life from entering the country. The immigration authorities will not accept transcations from any employer who provides work to an illegal immigrant or a foreigner who is not on their sponsorship.

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