Kuwait mulls amnesty for illegal migrants

Kuwait is considering allowing more than 60,000 illegal migrants to leave the Gulf country unpunished as part of a general amnesty that could stretch up to six months, a newspaper said on Saturday.

'Alanba', quoting a ministry of interior source, said the amnesty could be announced to mark the emirate’s national day celebrations next week, adding that the measure is needed to flush out illegal aliens.

It said the expected pardon period could be the longest amnesty to be announced by Kuwait as it had given only two months in previous periods to overstaying expatriates and other illegal migrants.

“This time, the amnesty could be between three to six months….it it is four months, this will allow the illegal residents who have children in school to sort their situation and leave,” the source said.

The paper said the forthcoming amnesty would allow those who will depart the emirate to return as they would not be blacklisted as in previous pardons. “This measure is intended to encourager all those who are residing illegally in the country to leave,” it said.
It quoted the source as saying an estimated 60,000-65,000 illegal migrants currently reside in Kuwait, one of the wealthiest nations that sit atop the fourth largest proven oil deposits.

The UAE and other Gulf oil producers have often given announced similar amnesties to their illegal residents, who either overstay or sneak across the border by sea or land.

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