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GID Addresses Rising Irregular Migration, Smuggling & Border Security Concerns
In response to a sharp rise in irregular migration and increasing concerns around border security and migrant smuggling, the Gambia Immigration Department (GID) held a high-level briefing today, highlighting key challenges, gaps in the legal framework, and urgent calls for national cooperation.
Migration Challenges in The Gambia
The GID revealed that porous borders and the misuse of the ECOWAS free movement protocol are enabling smugglers to exploit The Gambia as a transit point for migrants—mostly aiming to reach Europe via the Canary Islands.
Key hotspots include Khartoum, Gunjur, Sanyang, Tanji, and Barra.
Compound owners harboring undocumented migrants are now being held accountable under immigration laws.
Legal and Institutional Gaps
• No existing law criminalizes migrant smuggling directly in The Gambia.
• The Immigration Bill, which aims to introduce strong enforcement powers and penalties, is pending Cabinet and National Assembly approval.
• Current fines (D5,000–D50,000) are too lenient, making smuggling a profitable and low-risk business for offenders.
Prosecution & Enforcement Limitations
While GID has legal experts, it lacks independent prosecutorial powers and must rely on the Gambia Police Force (GPF), whose capacity is overstretched.
GID recommends:
• Establishing an independent GID Legal Unit.
• Empowering immigration officers to prosecute migration-related offenses directly.
Community & Compound Owner Responsibility
GID has emphasized that:
“Housing undocumented migrants is an immigration offense.”
Community members and landlords are urged to report suspicious persons or unknown tenants. Failing to report such activities aids smuggling networks and will face legal consequences.
Voluntary Repatriation, Not Deportation
Most intercepted migrants use Gambia only as a transit route. GID supports voluntary return, coordinated with:
• IOM (International Organization for Migration)
• The Red Cross
• Senegalese Immigration Services
Migrant Welfare & Human Rights
Migrants are treated as victims, not criminals.
In partnership with the Red Cross, GID provides:
• Medical support
• Psychosocial care
• Food assistance
However, the Tangi reception center lacks basic facilities such as beds and adequate space. GID is lobbying for infrastructure upgrades and humanitarian support.
Media Misinformation & Public Clarity
GID warns against:
• False reports and misinformation spread by smugglers or external actors.
• Misrepresentation of GID enforcement in the media.
Minimal and legal force is only used when officers are threatened, as permitted by The Gambia’s Criminal Code.
Smuggling as a Business Scheme
Smugglers—many of them foreign nationals—have turned irregular migration into a fraudulent business, collecting tens of thousands of dalasis from desperate families.
“Many agents have no boats, no routes—just promises and scams,” GID warned.
Citizens are urged to invest in local opportunities instead of risking their lives or finances on false migration hopes.
Immigration Law Reform in Progress
The new Immigration Bill has undergone:
• Ministry and stakeholder reviews
• Legal revisions by GID experts
• Public consultations
It awaits Cabinet approval and National Assembly debate. Once passed, the law will:
• Criminalize smuggling of migrants
• Grant prosecutorial powers to GID
• Strengthen border control and enforcement
Key Takeaways
The fight against irregular migration requires a united national front.
GID reaffirms its commitment to:
• Human rights protection
• Strict law enforcement
• Stakeholder collaboration
GID Calls on All Gambians to:
• Report undocumented individuals in their communities
• Avoid sharing or consuming misinformation
• Support the passing of the Immigration Bill