Efforts are underway to deport a French family of six who have been living illegally in the Maldives for several years, according to Controller General of Immigration, Mohamed Sham’aan Waheed.
In a statement shared on social media, Sham’aan confirmed that Immigration Watch flagged the case on July 18. Following an investigation, the primary individual in the matter was summoned to the Immigration Department on October 23 for further proceedings.
The situation has been complicated by the expiration of all family members’ passports, making it challenging to arrange their deportation. To address this, the Immigration Department is collaborating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to secure the necessary travel documents from French authorities.
Sham’aan assured that the family will be repatriated to France as soon as the documentation is finalized. “No one will be permitted to live in the Maldives in violation of immigration laws,” he emphasized, reiterating the government’s zero-tolerance policy on illegal residency.
This case highlights the administration’s broader efforts to tackle immigration violations in the Maldives. Since taking office, the government has deported over 5,000 foreign nationals for various breaches of immigration laws, according to official statistics from the Immigration Department.
The government continues to emphasize its commitment to maintaining lawful immigration practices and ensuring that violations are addressed promptly. Further updates on the deportation process are expected once travel arrangements for the family are complete.
