Close to 1 400 ‘illegals’ deported

THE Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration deported 1 394 illegal immigrants at a cost of N$350 000 during the previous financial year, which ended in March 2007.

Rosalia Nghidinwa, Minister of Home Affairs and Immigration, revealed this when responding to questions from DTA politician McHenry Venaani in the National Assembly on Thursday. “These people were returned to their countries of origin,” Nghidinwa said.”The costs covered deportation by air and road and the per diems (S&T) for the Namibian immigration officials accompanying the deportees,” she added.”To minimise expenditure in this regard, our Ministry is in the process of appointing immigration tribunals in all 13 regions to authorise the removal of illegal immigrants as stipulated in the Immigration Control Act of 1993,” she added.At present, some 22 foreigners living illegally in the country are waiting to be deported, the Minister added.They are from Nigeria, The Gambia, Angola, Burundi, Sudan, Tanzania, the DRC and one from as far away as Bangladesh.The Ministry had successfully set up a mechanism to detect illegal immigrants who enter legally with a visa set for a specific period, but remain in the country instead of departing when the visa expires, Nghidinwa told the National Assembly.Another step to be undertaken soon would be to register all foreign cattle herders working in Namibia, who would also have to obtain work permits.”These people were returned to their countries of origin,” Nghidinwa said.”The costs covered deportation by air and road and the per diems (S&T) for the Namibian immigration officials accompanying the deportees,” she added.”To minimise expenditure in this regard, our Ministry is in the process of appointing immigration tribunals in all 13 regions to authorise the removal of illegal immigrants as stipulated in the Immigration Control Act of 1993,” she added.At present, some 22 foreigners living illegally in the country are waiting to be deported, the Minister added.They are from Nigeria, The Gambia, Angola, Burundi, Sudan, Tanzania, the DRC and one from as far away as Bangladesh.The Ministry had successfully set up a mechanism to detect illegal immigrants who enter legally with a visa set for a specific period, but remain in the country instead of departing when the visa expires, Nghidinwa told the National Assembly.Another step to be undertaken soon would be to register all foreign cattle herders working in Namibia, who would also have to obtain work permits.