Zimbabwean Nationals Among 53 Foreigners Detained In Georgia In Illegal Immigrarion Clampdown

At least 53 foreign nationals, including Zimbabweans, have been detained in Georgia following a coordinated immigration enforcement operation targeting illegal stay in the country.

By Advent Shoko

The arrests were carried out by officers from the Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) in major locations including Tbilisi, Batumi, Kobuleti, and Zugdidi, according to official confirmation.

Authorities said the operation formed part of ongoing efforts to strengthen border control and immigration compliance across the country.

The MIA stated that those detained came from multiple countries, reflecting the broad scope of the enforcement exercise. The Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed:

“The detained individuals include citizens of Kenya, Uganda, India, Turkmenistan, the Philippines, Cuba, Jordan, Russia, Turkiye, Ghana, Zimbabwe and Ethiopia.” 

Officials said Migration Department teams conducted inspections across various accommodation units and locations to identify foreign nationals who were residing in Georgia without legal documentation.

According to authorities, preliminary findings showed that the individuals were in the country in violation of national immigration laws. The MIA said:

“They were staying in the country without legal grounds under the Law of Georgia ‘On the Legal Status of Foreigners and Stateless Persons.’” 

The detained foreign nationals are currently being held at a Migration Department temporary accommodation centre while expulsion procedures are being processed. Authorities say arrangements are being made for their return to their respective countries of origin. The ministry added:

“The Migration Department routinely conducts special immigration control operations to ensure the effective enforcement of Georgia’s Law ‘On the Legal Status of Foreigners and Stateless Persons.” 

For Zimbabweans in the diaspora, the development highlights increasing global tightening of immigration enforcement, particularly in transit and non-resident visa regimes. Experts say such operations often affect students, workers, and overstayers who may have unclear or expired documentation.