Illegal residents face immediate deportation when they are caught, under new UAE Ministry of Interior rules, the Gulf News reported Tuesday.
Illegal immigrants previously faced a two-month prison term before being deported, but that has been scrapped in a bid to clear the decks of a growing number of illegals and eliminate crowding in Taweelah Prison, where hundreds of people are taken daily, the paper said.
Prison sources said the new rule has been enforced for about 20 days, and those caught on the spot when sneaking into the country are deported immediately. However, those who aid infiltrators still face a minimum of three years in jail plus a heavy fine.
According to a ministry report, over 14,000 illegal immigrants were caught last year.
As many as 200 illegal immigrants are taken to Abu Dhabi and Dubai airports every day, said the source, and sometimes the number is as high as 300. "There are days when we drive five to six bus-loads of illegal immigrants to the airport." -- Albawaba.com
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
