Government spokesperson Rachada Dhnadirek said on Tuesday (July 14) the Cabinet has endorsed the draft Prime Minister’s Office Regulation on Deportation, proposed by Deputy Prime Minister Pakorn Nilprapunt, reports the Bangkok Post.
The new regulation specifies six categories of offences under which foreign nationals may be deported when deemed necessary to protect public order and public morality.
The categories include: illegal entry into or unlawful residence in Thailand; working illegally in violation of the law governing foreign workers; operating a business illegally under the Foreign Business Act; forging official documents or using forged government documents; committing criminal offences punishable by imprisonment of three years or more; and acting as an organiser, instigator or accomplice in any of the above offences.
The regulation follows a Cabinet resolution on June 16 assigning Mr Pakorn to coordinate with relevant agencies to revise immigration-related laws and procedures to accelerate the removal of foreign nationals who commit offences or enter Thailand illegally.
Thailand had no unified administrative regulation governing deportation procedures, resulting in delays and requiring close coordination among multiple agencies on a case-by-case basis.
The new rules aim to establish standard procedures to improve the efficiency and speed of deportations.