Immigration reports more than 3,000 foreigners deported in 2020
MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration has deported more than 3,000 foreign nationals for violating Philippine laws in 2020.
In a statement on Tuesday, Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said that the bureau sent away 3,219 foreign nationals last year.
Chinese deportees comprised a majority of the number, with 3,009 deportees. This was followed by 60 Vietnamese, 40 Koreans, 25 Americans, 20 Japanese, 12 Indians and five Pakistanis.
The number of deported foreigners in 2020, however, is just half of those who were expelled from the country in 2019.
The BI chief explained that this was due to travel restrictions enforced by the government which also limited the number of foreign nationals who were allowed to enter the country.
Morente said that those deported were arrested for working without permit, involvement in unauthorized online gaming operations, telecommunications fraud, economic crimes, investment scams and cybercrime activities.
The foreign nationals were sent away after the three members of the BI Board of Commissioners found them guilty of committing various immigration offenses such as overstaying, working without permit, illegal entry and being undocumented.
“Some of them are wanted fugitives whose arrest and deportation was sought by governments of the countries where they have been charged or convicted for various crimes,” Morente added.
Deported foreigners are automatically placed on the Philippines’ blacklist, barring them from re-entering the country.
The bureau added that as of December 22, 276 foreigners are still at the BI’s detention facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City waiting for deportation orders. — Kristine Joy Patag
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