Foreigners dealing with sex workers face deportation

Dealing with a commercial sex worker may get you deported, according to the new Immigration and Emigration bill that is currently before parliament. Article 16 of the legislation that details the circumstances under which a foreigner may be deported says that the head of the Immigration and Emigration agency shall order for deportation of a foreigner found guilty of being involved in prostitution. The article also says that a foreigner involved in activities contrary to the culture and good morals of Rwandans may also be deported. Solina Nyirahabimana, a Minister in the President’s Office, recently told members of the Lower Chamber of Parliament, during the drafting of the new Law on Immigration and Emigration, that the need for quick service delivery in the new ICT age were the main principles that were kept in mind. “This draft law put into consideration the fact that there are many people coming and leaving the country everyday; we wanted a law that would make the whole process faster,” she said. To further strengthen Rwanda’s stand on embezzlement, the new law points out that a foreigner is liable for deportation if he or she has been convicted on embezzlement. A foreigner who “indulges in political activity that is contrary to national interest” or constitutes a threat to other countries may also deported. Interestingly, the new law says that immigration may order a foreigner subject to deportation to deposit a sum of money to cover the whole or part of the expenses related to his or her deportation. The law however did not specify under which circumstances such a decision may be taken. Nyirahabimana suggested to members of the Lower Chamber of Parliament that to curb the crime emanating from people coming into Rwanda, there was need to include some judicial police officers in the immigration offices. Ends

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Foreigners dealing with sex workers face deportation