Bermudians who marry foreigners for lust or money cannot then expect Government to deport them after the marriage "goes pear-shaped", according to Immigration Minister David Burch.

Senator Burch announced Government is to introduce legislation this year to crack down on "sham marriages".

And he said it was his personal view that Bermudians should only be allowed to marry one foreigner, once.

Sen. Burch told the Senate this week: "We will table in this session legislation to deal with increasing contracts regarding sham marriages, and will strengthen penalties with regards to foreigners here illegally and the people who harbour them and employers who hire them."

The Minister said: "There are many instances where either for money or for lust, or a combination of the two, Bermudians do silly things which put us in a position which is going to impact adversely on Bermudians going forward.

"I just wish they would think about this because it creates problems for us as a Country, when people see the grass is greener on the other side and come here for personal gain.

"We welcome people who will contribute both morally to society and to the economy, but where it is just for self-gain and gratification, I wish Bermudians would understand that they can't then come up the steps (of the Department of Immigration) demanding us to get rid of them (foreign spouses) when the relationship goes pear-shaped."

He added: "It is a personal wish of mine that if you bring one foreign spouse and you divorce them, you can't have another one.

"That's on my wish list."