Immigration Deports 36 more

[Stacey King]

Fiji TImes Online Maneesha Karan

IMMIGRATION officers deported 56 people last year under removal orders.

Director Immigration Department Nemani Vuniwaqa said this was 36 people more than in 2008.

According to Mr Vuniwaqa, of those deported, 19 were Chinese nationals and 12 were Indian nationals.

Others deported were five from Nigeria, four each from Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Tonga, two Australians and one each from the Marshall Islands, Hong Kong, the Solomon Islands, Kiribati, the Philippines and the United Kingdom.

These statistics excluded those who voluntarily departed after being advised about their visa being expired.

The issue of illegal immigrants was prevalent in all countries with Fiji being no exception, Mr Vuniwaqa said.

"Almost all people who become illegal immigrants entered the country lawfully before breaching the conditions of their permits, failing to extend their permits, becoming involved in illegal activities like prostitution and simple ignorance of the laws in place," he said.