Taiwan cracks down on overstaying aliens

TAIWAN’S National Immigration Agency (NIA) has invited foreign nationals who have overstayed in the island nation “to surrender to the authorities,” while it also encouraged citizens to report illegal employers and agencies.

In a press conference, the NIA invited representatives from the Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia to attend.

“Taiwan’s NIA hopes that this one-time program can provide incentives for overstayers to surrender to the authorities, and also encourage citizens to report illegal employers and agencies.”

In a statement, Taiwan’s NIA said, if verified, “we will assist the informant in applying for a hefty reward from labor affairs authorities.”

The free hot line for reporting on illegal employers and agencies and voluntary surrender is 0800-024881; the anti-trafficking in persons hot line is (02)-2388-3095.

During the conference, Chiu, Feng-Kuang, Taiwan’s NIA director general, said that under the current trends of globalization and internationalization, “population movement across countries has become increasingly frequent, and Taiwan as well as other countries face a similar problem: an increase of overstayers.

“For example, there are up to 88,000 overstayers in Taiwan as of October 2018. It is possible that this continual increase of overstayers might result in concerns for social security.”

To increase effectiveness of inspections, decrease risks to the safety of inspectors and protect the human rights of overstayers, the NIA said it has been promoting a voluntary surrender mechanism since 2011.

“Under the mechanism, overstayers who surrender voluntarily will not be detained. This program has seen decent results over the years, and Taiwan’s NIA has decided to push the Overstayers Voluntary Departure Program in 2019.”

During the press conference, Taiwan’s NIA played promotional shorts, handed out flyers and explained the key elements of its program. “Taiwan’s NIA calls upon citizens to encourage overstayers to surrender, since they might be subjected to vulnerable and unsettling circumstances, receive maltreatment or even become victims of human trafficking during the overstay in Taiwan.”

The promotional period of the program will last one month, from January 1, 2019 to January 31. The program will be effective for five months, from February 1 to June 30.

The Overstayers Voluntary Departure Program will take a carrotand-stick approach, the NIA said.

During the effective period, overstayers who surrender voluntarily will receive a lighter punishment: no detention, a maximum overstay fine of NTD 2,000 and a shorter entry ban.

“Overstayers who are seized will receive a severer punishment: certain detention, severer overstay fines and a longer entry ban.”