Security forces in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) last week conducted their second campaign aimed at arresting illegal immigrants, reports the Emirates daily Gulf News.
This was the country’s second annual National Campaign for Security Awareness, under the theme Legal Residence – A Safer Society. Thirty-three illegal immigrants were arrested on Sunday following the weeklong campaign, which was launched by the Interior Ministry.
The campaign aims to involve the public in helping to eradicate the problem of illegal immigrants. It is estimated that 1.6 million out of the UAE’s 2.5 million inhabitants are non-nationals. Many of those non-nationals are legal workers from other Arab countries, but increasing numbers of illegal workers have pushed the government to launch this campaign.
The 33 who were arrested are from Asian and African countries; most of them from Afghanistan. In addition to the arrest of illegal immigrants, the Coast Guards and Border Security forces have also been rounding up hundreds of infiltrators. In December 2004, reports Gulf News, 687 people were arrested on the country’s borders and coastlines, with the help of local residents.