KUWAIT CITY, July 9: The Ministry of Interior has formed a joint committee consisting of members from the General Immigration Department, General Immigration Investigation Department

, General Criminal Investigation Department and General Patrols Department to track down expatriates staying illegally in the country, reports Al-Qabas daily quoting sources. Sources clarified this is part of the ministry’s campaign against those who have violated the Residency Law and failed to avail of the amnesty granted by HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah for them to correct their status or leave the country without facing sanctions from the beginning of March until the end of June.

Sources revealed the committee will supervise the launching of intensive security campaigns all over the country to limit the number of illegal marginal foreign workers. Sources said the ministry will take harsh measures against sponsors who provide shelter for those staying illegally in the country. Sources confirmed the committee will start working in the beginning of August to give a chance to the concerned expatriates to legalize their stay or leave the country. Sources explained some of the Residency Law violators have been given until July 27 to process their papers as a humanitarian gesture.

Sources added those who can avail of the extended amnesty include those whose transactions were delayed due to the overlapping functions in the ministries of Interior, Social Affairs and Labor; those whose sponsors traveled abroad and returned only after the amnesty period; those whose files are under code 71; those whose sponsors died; and those confined in hospitals for a long time. Sources warned the authorities have intensified efforts to arrest foreigners staying illegally in the country and are not included in any of the aforementioned categories.

Sources appealed to all the concerned expatriates to avail of the extended amnesty, because there will be no extension after this. Sources added the authorities will take tough measures against those who will be arrested after the extended grace period. - Arab times