Four sites allocated for visa offenders ahead of deportation

KUWAIT CITY, June 27: The Ministry of Interior, with all of its field security sectors, will carry out an unprecedented security campaign against Residency Law violators once the two-week extension of the deadline for them to leave the country or legalize their status ends on Sunday, June 30. Sources from the ministry revealed that the campaign covers all governorates with the participation of security, residency affairs investigation, criminal investigation, rescue, and special services directorates as per the directive of First Deputy Premier, Minister of Interior and Defense Sheikh Fahad Yousuf Saud Al-Sabah. Sources explained that the extensive security campaign is aimed at eliminating Residency Law violators; even those who are in the farms, chalets and remote areas. Sources also warned that the necessary legal measures will be taken against those who harbor these violators. Sources disclosed that four sites have been allocated for violators who will be arrested or surrendered to the authorities after the deadline.

They said these sites include the Deportation Prison, Juvenile Welfare Department building at the Sulaibiya Prison Complex, Accommodation Department, and Detention Department building in the Residency Investigations General Department building along the United Nations Roundabout (formerly Al-Azham). They added these sites could accommodate about 3,500 people in preparation for their deportation upon completion of legal and administrative procedures -- the most challenge important of which is coordination with their embassies to obtain travel documents for them. Meanwhile, in a press statement, the ministry confirmed that Assistant Undersecretary for Private Security Affairs at the Interior Ministry Major General Abdullah Saffah Al-Mulla, who heads the field campaign against violators, recently held a coordination meeting with Assistant Undersecretary for Public Security Affairs Major General Hamad Al-Munaifiand officials of the concerned security sectors; during which he conveyed the minister’s instructions.

They discussed the efforts exerted to amend the status of violators who applied for such amendment at the Residency Affairs General Department, ensure the continuous provision of all means of comfort to expatriates staying in the shelters, and complete the security procedures. They also reviewed the mechanism for organizing security and inspection campaigns in various governorates to arrest violators who did not leave the country or legalize their status within the specified period. During the meeting, Al-Mulla stressed the need for full vigilance and readiness of the field security sectors, as well as their concerted efforts to strictly enforce the law. It can be recalled that the ministry deported more than 40,000 violators last year as part of the expanded security campaigns it carried out throughout the country.

By Munif Naif
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff