Imagine living in a country where the leaders were concerned about national security? South Korea slammed the breaks on illegal immigration in and forced around 11,000 undocumented illegal immigrants to leave the country. President Yoon Suk Yeol has said that his administration will continue taking “strict measures” to ensure national security.
The 11,000 expulsions happened between June 12 and July 31 amid a 50-day crackdown collaboration between the Korean Coast Guard, the National Police Agency, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Ministry of Employment and Labor, and Ministry of Justice. Of the 11,000, 5,282 people were deported, while another 5,476 voluntarily left to avoid further repercussions. The illegal migrants that were forcibly deported may face entry bans and fines depending on how long they remained in South Korea illegally. Additionally, 1,290 employers were fined for illegally hiring undocumented migrants.
“Moving forward as well, we will strive to create a safe society by taking strict measures not only against foreigners who stay here illegally, but also foreigners who threaten Korean citizens’ safety, such as with drugs, or who promote residing here illegally, by helping others find illegal employment,” Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon said in a statement.
Around 37,000 illegal migrants were expelled from South Korea within the first half of 2023. Justice Minister Han implemented a five-year strategy to cut down the illegal population from around 410,000 to 200,000. The Justice Ministry believes 411,000 migrants snuck into the country in 2022 alone and they are taking the issue extremely seriously.
There are methods to legally enter a country, and those methods were respected and understood by everyone up until a few years ago. Now, people feel as if they can enter any country and claim asylum for a free meal ticket. Nations like the USA that have deliberately erased the borders have created a serious national security issue and cities are now attempting to handle the economic ramifications of the migrant crisis. There are solutions if those in power see large-scale invasions as a problem to solve.