BI, Asean counterparts in high-level consultations

THE Bureau of Immigration and its counterparts in the Association of South East Asian (Asean) held high-level consultations with partner nations to enhance regional cooperation.

Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said on Monday the just concluded 27th Asean Directors-General of Immigration Departments and Heads of Consular Affairs Divisions of Ministries of Foreign Affairs Meeting (DGICM), which was held in Nha Trang, Vietnam, focused on recent trends, best practices, and potential collaborations in handling immigration and consular matters.

«This forum is an essential platform for aligning our practices with international standards and fostering collaboration among ASEAN nations. By engaging in these discussions, we aim to refine our strategies and enhance our capabilities to address emerging issues effectively,» said Tansingco.

Tansingco said this year's meeting also included high-level consultations with Australia, Japan, China, and South Korea, covering a broad spectrum of border management and immigration issues.

Working group meetings included the 7th ASEAN Heads of Major Immigration Checkpoints Forum, the 3rd Heads of Specialist Unit (HSU) on People Smuggling, and the 19th ASEAN Immigration Intelligence Forum (AIIF).

During the meeting, BI officials shared recent trends on illegal migration and human trafficking, including victims being tortured and forced to work as love and crypto scammers by their recruiter, fake pilgrims, mail order brides, illegal surrogacy, and illegal sex trade.

The BI also reported an increase in attempts to smuggle in sex offenders and sex tourists.