The number of expatriates deported from the country during the first ten months of 2020 dwindled to 13,000, a sharp drop from the 34,000 deportees during the 12 months of 2018 and the 40,000 deportations in 2019.
Officials cite the ongoing pandemic as main reason behind the slump in deportation numbers. Early on in the COVID-19 crisis, as part of precautionary measures to curb the spread of the virus, the authorities imposed travel restrictions on people and closed down Kuwait International Airport to all commercial flights. The airport shut-down in mid-March continued for the next four-and-half months, with only cargo and special chartered flights being allowed to land during this period.
Lack of flights from Kuwait International Airport meant that all deportations had to be halted during this period. Moreover, since most government offices also remained closed during this time, further formalities in the deportation process could not be completed. In addition, as courts were also not in session, new deportation orders could not be heard or a sentence issued by the judiciary. Given these circumstances, the fact that Kuwait managed to deport 13,000 people within the past ten months, is in itself quite an achievement.
Around 90 percent of those deported during the last ten months were judicially deported after courts ruled against them for committing felonies or misdemeanors. The remaining 10 percent were administrative deportations arising from decisions by the Ministry of Interior. Over 900 men and women are reportedly still remaining in the deportation center awaiting the completion of deportation procedures, while some others are awaiting decisions in cases pending against them in court cases. A few have been in the deportation center for a while now, as they have travel bans filed against them because of financial debts they incurred and must repay before being deported.