SHAH ALAM, June 17 — A total of 26,384 illegal immigrants have been deported to their countries of origin between January and Thursday, according to Immigration Director-General Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali.

He said these immigrants were arrested during the 6,936 operations held nationwide during which 75,190 foreigners were screened.

"At the same time, 21,717 illegal immigrants were detained for various immigration offences. A total of 619 employers were also arrested during the same period,” he told a press conference after attending the Assimilation of Noble Values session and break-of-fast event held by the Selangor Immigration Department here yesterday.

Also present was Selangor Immigration Director, Omran Omar.

At the event, Mustafar also presented Ramadan aid to 16 single mothers, 12 Immigration Department staff and eight disabled children.

In another development, Mustafar warned employers who had yet to register their foreign workers through the Enforcement Card (E-Card) programme to immediately do so before the deadline on June 30 as stern action would be taken from July 1.

To date, 113,670 E-cards have been issued throughout the country. — Bernama