Immigration Act of 2007 empowers officers with significant enforcement authority under new Department of Immigration

In 2007, the Royal Government of Bhutan introduced the Immigration Act, amending the Bhutanese Citizenship Act of 1985 and establishing the Department of Immigration under the Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs. This new enactment empowered officers of the Department of Immigration with extensive police and prosecution powers to enforce immigration laws through various immigration offices across the country. These officers were authorized to conduct searches, arrests, seizures, detentions, interrogations, and demand forfeitures on both private and official premises. The implementation of the Immigration Act of 2007 marked a significant shift in Bhutan's approach to immigration control and regulation. With the establishment of the Department of Immigration, the country aimed to strengthen its borders and regulate the inflow and outflow of people more effectively. The broad powers granted to immigration officers underscored the government's commitment to enforcing immigration laws rigorously and maintaining national security. The Immigration Act of 2007 had a lasting impact on Bhutan's immigration policies and procedures, shaping how the country manages its borders and controls the movement of people. By centralizing immigration-related functions under a dedicated department, Bhutan took a significant step towards enhancing its overall security and sovereignty in the realm of immigration. #Bhutan #ImmigrationAct #DepartmentOfImmigration #NationalSecurity #BorderControl