BANGKOK – Thailand’s Cabinet has approved a new draft regulation to quickly deport foreign nationals who violate local laws or act against Thai social norms. Spearheaded by Deputy Prime Minister Pakorn Nilprapunt, the measure aims to replace outdated, slow administrative procedures. It allows authorities to swiftly remove those who commit crimes, work illegally, or threaten public order.
Lawmakers in Thailand recently passed a new draft regulation targeting foreign residents. The rule allows officials to fast-track the removal of foreigners whose actions clash with Thai morals and societal norms. Deputy Prime Minister Pakorn Nilprapunt proposed this significant change to immigration enforcement.
Thailand already has a deportation law on the books. However, it lacks clear administrative procedures, meaning immigration laws often act as a substitute. Previously, undocumented migrants faced prosecution and detention before eventual repatriation.
Key Takeaways:
- Thailand approved a streamlined regulation to quickly deport foreigners who break laws or offend local social norms.
- The new rules fix a decades-old system where airlines or transport operators were forced to pay for deportation flights.
- Foreigners convicted of serious crimes will face prosecution first and must be deported within 30 days of completing their sentences.
The original deportation law was enacted decades ago in 1956. That outdated law required deportees to return via their exact entry route. It also forced transport operators to cover the costs of these return trips.
Deputy Prime Minister Pakorn explained that this old rule simply ignores modern reality. Many undocumented migrants entered the country years ago and lack the money to return home. At the same time, commercial airlines refuse to foot the bill for these forced flights.
Because of these old flaws, the deportation process became incredibly slow and tangled in red tape. Multiple government agencies had to coordinate on a tedious case-by-case basis. The new regulation aims to cut through this bureaucracy and speed up the timeline.
Swift Action Against Bad Behavior
Under the new framework, foreign nationals who engage in deviant conduct can face immediate removal. This includes any behavior that goes against established Thai social norms or threatens public morality. The government wants to ensure that problematic individuals are removed systematically and quickly.
The new rules identify six specific categories of deportable offenses. Illegal entry or staying in Thailand without proper authorization is the first major offense. The second category targets foreigners who are working illegally in the country.
Operating a business in violation of the Foreign Business Act is the third offense. Fourth, anyone caught forging or using fake government documents will be quickly deported.
Fifth, committing crimes carrying a prison sentence of three years or more triggers the law. Finally, acting as an accomplice to any of these offenses rounds out the list.
Handling Serious Criminal Offenders
Not all offenders will simply be put on a plane immediately. Those convicted of serious crimes must face the Thai justice system first. They will be fully prosecuted and serve their required prison time before leaving the country.
The new rules create a strict timeline for their eventual release. The Department of Corrections must notify the Interior Ministry before a foreign inmate finishes their sentence. Once the sentence ends, they must be deported within 30 days if a deportation order exists.
Authorities will generally send approved deportees back to their home countries. The Interior Ministry handles the logistics of returning people to their nation of origin. But sometimes, a person’s exact nationality cannot be clearly proven.
In those rare cases, they may be sent to their last known country of residence. Transfers to a third country are also possible, but they require diplomatic channels. The individual must give written consent, and the receiving party must pay the associated costs.
This move reflects a broader government effort to tighten immigration enforcement. The cabinet wants to better protect national security and public order. It is the first unified administrative framework for removing foreign offenders in Thailand’s history.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul directed the cabinet to fix these issues in June. He noted that the old deportation process was much too slow. Arrests and prosecutions were happening, but the final removals lagged far behind.
While the law streamlines enforcement, some critics have raised concerns about vulnerable groups. The Bangkok Post notes that the draft lacks guidelines for handling political asylum seekers. Many people flee repressive governments and use Thailand as a temporary shelter.
Thailand has not signed the 1951 Refugee Convention. Human rights advocates worry that the fast-track rules might unfairly impact these individuals. They hope the government will consider these nuances as the regulation is put into practice.
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