Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has called for tougher measures to address the nation’s illegal immigration crisis, as the number of undocumented migrants has doubled in a year, reaching over 8,000.
Speaking in Parliament, Rabuka questioned whether Fiji had been “too passive” in its enforcement approach. He suggested a more proactive role for authorities, including street-level ID checks by police and investigators to identify those in breach of immigration laws. “We need to tighten up,” he said.
“Ask people on the street—do you have an ID? Are you where you’re supposed to be? These are questions we must start asking.”
The Prime Minister confirmed plans to review immigration laws to improve enforcement. He also highlighted serious concerns about the lack of detention facilities, revealing that illegal immigrants are currently held alongside convicted criminals due to inadequate infrastructure.
The number of illegal immigrants in Fiji rose from 4,709 in January 2023 to over 8,000, according to data shared by former Home Affairs Minister Pio Tikoduadua in November 2024.
Many have overstayed work, student, or tourist visas, with key groups including Pacific Islanders, Sri Lankans, and Bangladeshi.
“They came here, and then they jumped from their old employer to the next one”
Tikoduadua attributed the rise partly to kinship ties and limited enforcement capabilities within the Department of Immigration.
“We don’t have an enforcement agency within Immigration, so we rely on the police for removals,” Tikoduadua said, noting that overstayers often exploit slow legal processes to extend their stay.
Rabuka emphasised the government’s efforts to bolster border management and intelligence to monitor irregular migration. He outlined plans for an “intelligence and assessment structure” to detect trends and enhance compliance resources, while ensuring human rights are upheld during enforcement operations.
“An intelligence and assessment structure that coordinates information collectively in drawing out the trend of illegal migrants who may intend to reside illegally in Fiji.“
The Prime Minister also addressed the need for voluntary departure initiatives for those seeking to leave Fiji and reaffirmed his commitment to reducing the number of illegal immigrants.
In Parliament, Rabuka marked 6 December as a significant personal milestone, recalling moments from his political and legal journey, including his 1987 decision to cede power and a 2006 court verdict declaring him not guilty.
As the government moves to tackle this growing issue, Rabuka underscored the importance of collaboration between stakeholders and the need for effective immigration infrastructure to manage the rising numbers.
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