Intelligence agents of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) arrested seven illegal aliens in Clark Field, Angeles City as the agency launched its first operation designed to conduct a census of all foreigners staying in the country.

 

            BI Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. disclosed that the aliens were apprehended last July 5 during an operation conducted by some 30 operatives from the bureau’s intelligence division.

 

David said those apprehended were among the 92 mostly Indian and Korean nationals who were invited by the operatives for verification of immigration status.

 

He added that the aliens were served with mission orders at their residences and establishments and brought to the nearest BI field office in Clark for document and status verification.

David explained that the operation is part of the BI’s plan to conduct a nationwide audit or census of foreigners.

 

He again reminded all illegally staying aliens to voluntarily legalize their status by updating their stay and apply for the appropriate visa.

 

The BI chief said the census was conceived in view of reports that many aliens who arrived as tourists are now overstaying and are engaged in various activities and occupations without bothering to secure the required permits and visa from the bureau.

 

Atty. Ma. Antonette Mangrobang, BI acting intelligence chief, said that of the seven detained aliens, five were undocumented, one holds a fraudulent immigration document and the other one is a fugitive.

 

The undocumented aliens included three Koreans and two Indians while the fugitive is a Marshall Island national and the holder of spurious document is a Korean

 

Of the 92 aliens who were verified in the operation, 65 were released for being documented.

 

Also released were 18 Indian nationals but Mangrobang said they were issued notices to appear at the BI and comply with certain immigration requirements.

 

Interestingly, one of those detained, Yong Yeal Yu, a Marshall Island national, who was issued a summary deportation order by the BI 10 years ago. 

 

            Yu, who is wanted for overstaying and large-scale estafa, disappeared in 2002 after escaping from the BI jail in Bicutan, Taguig.###