LAHAD DATU: The Sabah Immigration Department deported 130 Filipino illegals through the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex, here, on Tuesday.
State Immigration Director Datuk Sh Sitti Saleha Habib Yussof said the exercise involved detainees at Tawau Immigration Depot, comprising 39 men, 68 women and 23 children aged between one and 65.
“The deportation is a self-financing programme. The children involved are accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
“All the deportees had committed offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Immigration Regulations 1963 for entering the State without a valid permit or pass, as well as overstaying,” she said.
According to her, the department has to date sent back 5,813 Filipinos and a total of 8,467 foreign illegals to their countries of origin.
“All the illegal immigrants will be blacklisted according to the type of offences committed,” said Sitti, adding the exercise was part of the department’s ongoing operation carried out from time to time for all detainees placed in immigration depots in Sabah.
“We will continue to carry out enforcement operations and take strict action against those who do not comply with the rules and laws of the country,” she added.
