Immigration arrests 37,313 undocumented migrants in nine months

PUTRAJAYA: The Immigration Department carried out 10,374 enforcement operations nationwide and arrested 37,313 undocumented migrants between Jan 1 and Sept 29 this year.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said 137,603 people were screened during the operations as part of the ministry's enforcement against immigration offences.

He said enforcement also targeted employers suspected of hiring or harbouring undocumented migrants.

"A total of 1,809 employers were arrested during the period, 1,692 of whom were Malaysians," he said in a social media post today.

Saifuddin said the figures reflected the ministry's approach of targeting not only undocumented migrants but also those who employed and harboured them.

He said employer arrests had risen substantially from 346 in 2023 to 1,859 in 2024 and 2,202 last year.

For the first nine months of this year, 1,809 employers had already been arrested.

"Enforcement cannot only focus on undocumented migrants. It must also reach those who employ and harbour them," he said.

Saifuddin said the Home Ministry and Immigration Department would continue conducting enforcement operations daily.

He described undocumented migrants as a longstanding problem aggravated by weaknesses and leakages in the system, exploited by syndicates and irresponsible employers.

Saifuddin said he wanted the ministry and Immigration Department to adopt a proactive enforcement approach rather than respond only when cases attracted public attention.

"This is not seasonal enforcement and it is not carried out only when an issue becomes the focus of attention.

"The Home Ministry and Immigration will continue to break this chain of abuse to safeguard the country's sovereignty and security," he said.

He also warned foreigners entering Malaysia to use legal channels and comply with immigration laws, saying action would be taken against those involved in illegal entry, document forgery or overstaying.

Employers, meanwhile, were warned against hiring or harbouring undocumented migrants.

Saifuddin also urged Malaysians not to harbour undocumented migrants and to cooperate with the authorities in dealing with immigration offences.

The Immigration Department has said its enforcement operations are conducted throughout the year and are not limited to foreign nationals, adding that employers and property owners were also liable for action if they breached immigration laws.