Government is cracking down on foreign nationals over staying their vacation and illegally engaging in employment.

In a press conference, Minister of Labour Home, Affairs and Housing Sen. David Burch said that visitors are not allowed to seek employment while on vacation. Despite this, there have been increasing incidents where this policy is being ignored.

He said that residing and working without permission is a trend that the Government wishes to arrest, before it escalates.

Sen. Burch said: "I want to put both Bermudians and illegal immigrants on notice that there is zero tolerance for this type of behaviour and persons found engaging in such will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

"I should add that most visitors who overstay and engage in working illegally are usually deported and placed on the Bermuda Stop List and not allowed to enter Bermuda again. I cannot stress too strongly that these are serious offences which we shall not ignore."

Minister Burch said that Bermuda does not really have a problem with illegal aliens as most arrive in Bermuda legally as bona fide visitors, fall in love with Bermuda and decide to stay, without securing the proper permission.

"There is a process for persons wishing to reside and seek employment, but breaking the laws of the land is not the answer.

"Persons should attend the Department of Immigration, secure the appropriate form and apply," he said.

It was announced that this problem is being addressed by the Department of Immigration.

He explained: "We are more vigilant in the policing of our borders and in the upcoming days and weeks you will see the Department's Compliance Team increasing their crackdowns.

"The newly installed Border Management System is greatly assisting us in this process as it not only records arrivals and departures electronically but raises an automatic alert when persons over stay.

Minister Burch said: "I must also point out that persons assisting illegal immigrants either by hiding them or employing them will also find themselves before the courts.

"Employers employing illegal immigrants will find that legitimate Work Permit applications are subject to closer scrutiny by the Department of Immigration."

He added: "You will have recently seen in the media several individuals being prosecuted in the courts for over staying their visitors' permission and working illegally whilst here.

"Most recently a Bermudian woman was charged with harbouring an overstay.

"That case is pending but the individual who overstayed is in Westgate Correctional Facility while the Deportation Process is concluded."

Sen. Burch said that this year there have been four deportations. He said that the majority of offenders tend to be Jamaican Nationals but that recently there was one Canadian and one American offender.

He noted that most visitors who overstay and engage in working illegally are usually deported and placed on the Bermuda Stop List and not allowed to enter Bermuda again.

"I cannot stress too strongly that these are serious offences which we shall not ignore.

"We intend to use whatever means to enforce the law and I have taken the liberty of attaching a copy of our first poster overstay which we shall display around the country as well as on the Immigration website."

Sen. Burch encouraged the public who may have information on illegal immigrants, those working without permission or outside of their job category to call the Immigration Hotline on 296 5202.