Fiji Announces Measures to Tackle Soaring Illegal Immigration

The Fijian government has taken steps to address the growing issue of illegal immigration in the country, with the number of undocumented residents reaching over 8,000.

The situation has come under scrutiny in recent months, with Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka admitting that the number of overstayers had exploded from 4,709 in January 2023 to more than 8,000 within a year.

The Root Cause: Pacific Islanders Overstaying Visas

According to government sources, 90 percent of offenders are Pacific Islanders who came to Fiji to study and then overstayed their visas. This trend has been a major concern for the government.

Mr. Rabuka was asked in parliament last week what measures the government would take to address this issue.

“The Fiji intelligence department has enhanced border management capabilities, with an intelligence and assessment structure that coordinates information proactively,” Mr. Rabuka said.

A Proactive Approach

In a bid to tackle the problem, the government has implemented a comprehensive strategy to effectively “deal” with illegal immigration.

“This assessment will point out emerging trends and issues of border security, identify irregular migration movement and provide a border security landscape to avoid an increase in numbers.”

Mr. Rabuka was quoted as saying that perhaps Fiji should take a more proactive role with its investigators and police, asking people on the street for ID if they look suspicious.

Conclusion

The Fijian government’s efforts to address illegal immigration are a step in the right direction. While there is still much work to be done, the announcement of new measures marks a significant shift towards tackling this growing concern.