K Shanmugam on deportations of foreigners convicted of offences in Singapore

The Government does not have a standard protocol of consulting the authorities of the intended receiving countries before proceeding with the deportation of foreigners. Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam stated this position in reply to an MP’s question in Parliament on Tuesday (Aug 6). He said foreigners who are being deported can leave for any country to which their passports allow them to go to. The foreign country can, as a sovereign state, choose to allow entry or to disallow entry when the person arrives on its shores, or it can take subsequent actions to expel the person after entry. Mr Shanmugam also said the Government does not disclose specific discussions as it is not in the public interest to do so.