New Zealand is warning migrants not to risk their future in the country by committing crimes

Immigration officials in New Zealand have expressed concern about the number of temporary migrants committing crimes, warning them that their immigration status in the country is at stake.

According to a press release from New Zealand Immigration, migrants who commit crimes risk losing their status and being deported, VisaGuide.World reports.

What may be perceived as a minor offense or crime at home can have serious consequences here.

Deportation awaits migrant criminals, immigration authorities say

Steve Watson, the General Manager of Immigration Compliance and Investigations at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, says there has been an increasing number of migrant workers registered in the construction, hospitality and tourism sectors, linked to alcohol abuse and increased court hearings. recent times.

Watson also said migrants with criminal records are often not informed of the consequences they face.

If you commit a criminal offense, it may affect your ability to stay in the country. And they (migrants) are shocked when we tell them that committing a crime could mean an early flight home.

The decision to deport a migrant must take into account that person’s circumstances, including the offence, the length of time he or she has lived in New Zealand and whether or not he or she has a family in the country. country has.

The employment status and type of job a migrant has, as well as the skills they have, can also influence their likelihood of being deported.

We compare the risks of their offending with the value they add to New Zealand and balance that with a careful assessment of their character. Deportation could affect their ability to return to New Zealand and possibly their ability to visit other countries.

Annual net migration to New Zealand broke a new record in 2023

According to Statistics NZ, the number of migrants will increase by 91 per cent in 2023, with a total of 133,800 arrivals.

If you look at the skill level of the people on work visas, many of them are very, very unskilled.

Indian nationals led the pack, with 51,000 more arrivals than the year before, while Filipinos followed in second place, with 36,500 arrivals. The list of top five nationality groups coming to New Zealand concludes with Fiji and South Africa.

New Zealand faced similar problems in 2017, when net immigration increased 114 percent to 62,469.