President Muizzu Sets Six-Month Deadline to Deport Undocumented Foreign Workers

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has announced a decisive six-month timeline to identify and deport undocumented foreign workers, signaling a major escalation in the Maldives' immigration enforcement strategy. The initiative aims to systematically remove individuals residing in the country without legal authorization through intensified tracking and identification operations. This enforcement drive follows the success of 'Operation Kurangi,' a comprehensive biometric data collection program. The government revealed that 98 percent of foreign workers with active work permits have now registered their full biometric profiles, including ten fingerprints and identifying photographs, in the national database. This marks a significant leap from November 2023, when only 13 percent of the legal workforce had provided such information. Operation Kurangi has been implemented through strategic partnerships with local island councils, establishing biometric collection centers across the archipelago. By systematically verifying the status of all foreigners, the Ministry of Homeland Security, Labour and Technology is building a definitive national register to monitor the foreign population and curb illegal immigration. The administration is pursuing a permanent solution to the challenge of undocumented migration, with a long-term target date set for April 2027. The government has already demonstrated the scale of the issue, having deported more than 6,700 individuals identified as illegal residents to date. By integrating biometric technology with local governance, the government aims to close loopholes that previously allowed undocumented workers to remain undetected. This shift toward a data-driven approach reflects a broader effort to tighten border controls and ensure that all foreign nationals operating within the Maldives adhere to national labor and immigration laws.