BANGKOK – Thailand is drafting new regulations that would allow authorities to deport foreign nationals more quickly as the government steps up efforts to strengthen immigration enforcement and crack down on foreign offenders.

Approved in principle by the cabinet in mid-July, the proposed rules are intended to close long-standing legal loopholes while giving immigration authorities clearer procedures for removing foreign offenders.

Deputy Prime Minister for Legal Affairs Pakorn Nilprapunt said the current deportation framework is outdated, particularly because it requires airlines or transport operators to bear the cost of returning deported foreigners.

“Many undocumented immigrants have lived here for a long time and have no money to return, while airlines clearly refuse to bear those costs,” Pakorn said.

Under the proposal, the government would instead cover deportation expenses, saying it would be more cost-effective than keeping offenders in prolonged immigration detention.

The move follows instructions from Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to strengthen immigration enforcement. Government spokesperson Rachada Dhnadirek said Thailand remains committed to welcoming legitimate tourists, investors and business people but would take a tougher stance against those who abuse that hospitality.

“Thailand gladly welcomes foreign tourists, investors and business people,” she said. “However, those who violate the law or cause damage to the country must be prosecuted and deported as quickly as possible.”

The draft outlines six grounds for expedited deportation: illegal entry or visa overstays, working without authorisation, violating the Foreign Business Act, forging official documents, committing offences punishable by at least three years’ imprisonment, and acting as an accomplice to any of those offences.

It also broadens the circumstances under which authorities may order deportation by allowing action when it is considered necessary to protect public order or public morality, even in cases where no serious criminal conviction has been secured.

The proposal has drawn debate among legal commentators, with some questioning whether it provides sufficient safeguards for asylum seekers, political dissidents and journalists fleeing persecution. Critics have urged the government to ensure the regulation remains consistent with the international principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning individuals to countries where they may face persecution.