Net tightened on illegal immigrants in Shenzhen

BEIJING, Feb. 26 -- Border control authorities in Shenzhen are stepping up efforts to keep out illegal immigrants, an official said Monday.

Last week, the general entry-exit inspection station in Shenzhen, which borders Hong Kong, said it had apprehended 14 illegal immigrants trying to enter the city at various checkpoints.

"A growing number of people are trying to enter China without valid documents, either to stay here or to use it as a springboard to other countries," Yin Xiao, an officer with the general station told China Daily.

"As well as tightening our inspection procedures, we have strengthened cooperation with local police and the consulates of countries concerned to build a firewall against illegal immigrants," he said.

Many of the people trying to enter China illegally are from Asian countries, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and India, who come to Shenzhen in the hope of finding work and to enjoy China's relatively high salaries, Yin said.

On Friday, border control inspectors at the Luohu checkpoint stopped an Asian woman, who was trying to enter the country on a fake passport.

The woman, who had previously done business in several Chinese provinces, said she had been repatriated after being convicted of theft. As her visa was no longer valid, she said she tried to enter the country illegally.

On the same day, five Iraqis were stopped at the frontier station at Shenzhen airport attempting to enter the country via Malaysia on fake passports. Their intended final destination was Europe.

The group was the largest single case in the past three years, the station said.

Last year, the Shenzhen station apprehended 10 would-be illegal immigrants in 10 separate incidents, down from 17 people in 14 cases in 2006.

The lower numbers were due to upgraded facilities and increased efforts on the part of officials, a press officer surnamed Zhang said.

In a separate case last Monday, a man from Hong Kong was stopped at a checkpoint while trying to drive six people into Shenzhen in his van, which had both mainland and Hong Kong license plates.

The general station has warned all Hongkongers they face fines or prosecution for aiding illegal immigrants in such a way.

(Source: China Daily)