Background
The General Department of Immigration (GDI) enforces residency and entry rules at Cambodia’s international border checkpoints and manages removal procedures for foreign nationals who lack lawful status. Immigration officers operate within an administrative framework that processes cases of unlawful residence, unauthorized employment, and related criminal conduct at designated crossings.
Immigration officers are authorized to process expulsions through designated international border checkpoints when investigations determine unlawful residence, unauthorized employment, or criminal conduct. The GDI coordinates operational measures with national police and Interior Ministry leadership to execute removals and to close identified violations of immigration and labor controls.
Key Developments
On 28 July 2026 the General Department of Immigration implemented an operation that resulted in the expulsion of 21 Vietnamese nationals (including four women) from Cambodia. The removals were carried out through the Kaam Samnor international border police checkpoint after investigations found the individuals had unlawfully resided in Cambodia, engaged in unauthorized work, and used controlled substances.
Institutional Role
The GDI handles case processing, identification, and cross-border transfer logistics for foreign nationals subject to removal and works with provincial police posts at international crossings to complete physical departures. Senior Interior Ministry direction and GDI leadership provide operational instructions that guide investigative and removal procedures, and the GDI publishes operational summaries through its official communication channels.
Enforcement Actions
The July 28 expulsions followed internal investigative procedures and were executed at a land border police post, consistent with Cambodia’s routine administrative removal processes. The GDI circulated the announcement on its official social media accounts and website, listing links to TikTok, Telegram, Facebook and the immigration portal for public reference.
