Immigration swoops down on Chinese nationalsPORT-OF-SPAIN (Trinidad Express):
Immigration officials have charged 18 Chinese nationals living in Trinidad for several violations against the immigration laws.
Last Friday night a team of immigration officials headed by Officer Jerry Downes swooped down on V Members Club at Southland, Cross Crossing, and in a five-hour exercise, the Chinese nationals, mostly from Hong Kong, were questioned and sent to Port-of-Spain to be charged for vio-lating the immigration laws of Trinidad and Tobago.
Those charged were first sent to Marabella and San Fernando police stations and later transferred to Port-of-Spain.
They are expected to appear before a Port-of-Spain magistrate tomorrow.
The Sunday Express learnt that some were charged for not having work permits, while others were charged with tampering with their passports by changing the date on which they are expected to leave Trinidad.
Yet, others who were granted student visas were working as cooks and waitresses at fast-food restaurants in different parts of the country.
An official said that the Immigration Department has been receiving several complaints from nationals that there are a number of foreigners, including Chinese nationals, working in Trinidad illegally.
" We don't want this to continue and the best time to start is now," said the official.
The Sunday Express learnt that most of the illegal immigrants are coming from Hong Kong and southern China, and local agencies have been set up to facilitate the entry of these immigrants.
