SINGAPORE – More people were arrested for providing housing or employment to immigrant offenders in the first nine months of 2024, with official figures showing a 31.6% increase in cases compared to the same time of year previous.

The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said the trend was worrying, adding that it was working to crack down on violators.

The ICA said most immigration violators were holders of expired or canceled work permits.

Instead of leaving the country, they extended their stay and during this time, some of them also worked illegally in Singapore.

The ICA said 166 people were arrested for harboring immigration offenders between January and September 2024, while 138 people were arrested for hiring such offenders.

Most of those arrested were Singaporeans.

The ICA said 231 people were arrested for such offenses during the same period in 2023. In 2022, a total of 226 people were arrested for harboring and employing immigrant offenders.

Inspector Mark Chai, deputy officer in charge of the ICA’s intelligence division, said many cases were uncovered through information provided by members of the public and groundwork carried out by the agency.

Noting the increase in cases in 2024, he said: “This trend can potentially be dangerous because we would not know if these immigration violators are committing illicit activities here.

“If employers and those who house them do not ensure that they are here on a legal basis, it could become a security risk.

“If left unchecked, these delinquent immigrants may resort to crime to support themselves, such as selling or smuggling cigarettes, vapes and even prostitution. »

The ICA said it conducts nearly 60 intelligence operations every month, many of which tackle the problem of foreigners overstaying in Singapore.

The stipulated length of stay for a foreigner in Singapore varies depending on the type of pass held.

For example, a work permit for migrant workers lasts up to two years, depending on the validity of the worker’s passport, security bond and period of employment.

If a foreign worker’s work permit expires or is cancelled, they may be issued a short-term visit pass, which allows them to stay in Singapore for one month.

Director Goh Wee Kiat, senior deputy director of the ICA’s intelligence division, said many of those arrested for harboring immigration offenders were relatives, friends or employers of the foreigners.

They had provided accommodation for financial gain.

Supt Goh said: “Some of them claimed they neglected to check the immigration status of the foreigner, while others said they carried out checks when the foreigner was looking to rent the accommodation, but did not follow up subsequently, and that the pass had expired. »

Citing a case discovered in August, Supt Goh said a 43-year-old Chinese national was sentenced to six weeks in prison and three strokes of the cane after overstaying his stay in Singapore.

Investigation showed that he paid $450 a month to his host for accommodation in Toa Payoh. His work permit expired in October 2023.

The person arrested for harboring the Chinese national was fined $3,000.

Inspector Chai said some immigrant offenders employed by errant employers had previously worked as domestic workers or construction workers.

Instead of leaving Singapore after their work permits expired or were cancelled, they worked illegally in food stalls, hawker centers and pasar malams.

Some of the detained foreigners had also worked illegally in Singapore while on social visit passes.

In September 2024, the ICA raided a food stall in Toa Payoh, where it found a Chinese national, identified as S1, working there.

ICA officers used their automated mobile verification and identification system, which showed that the 36-year-old’s visit pass had expired in February 2022.

S1’s employer admitted that they were in a relationship, adding that the man had worked at the food stall without pay.

Investigation showed that S1 lived in Geylang and paid monthly rent of $350 to the person who hosted him. The person had not checked S1’s immigration status and was unaware that he was extending his length of stay.

S1 was sentenced to 14 weeks in prison and three strokes of the cane. His employer was given a 12-month conditional warning, while the person who harbored him was fined $3,500.

Supt Goh said: “Some employers and ports feign ignorance and claim they do not know how to check the immigration status of foreigners. But we have clarified the channels that can be used for verification.

“Ignorance is no excuse, and everyone should do their due diligence to verify. »

Hosts or employers of immigration violators are subject to prison sentences of up to 24 months and a fine of up to $6,000, or both.

How to Check the Immigration Status of Your Employee or Tenant

Landlords who wish to rent out their property and employers who seek to hire foreigners should check the immigration status of foreigners to ensure that their stay in Singapore is legal.

Immigration passes can be verified via this site, while work passes can be verified here.

Owners and employers should compare the original pass with the foreign national’s passport to ensure they are the rightful owner of both. Photocopies of passports or passes should not be accepted.

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