Hundred of undocumented Burmese migrant workers arrested on Thai-Burma border daily

February 11, 2025

HURFOM: Following the approval of the legal procedure of the public conscription law, and with the ban “oversea worker identification cards”, many undocumented Burmese migrant workers are attempting to enter Thailand by irregular means.

The Thai Border Guard Force has tightened security along the Thai – Burma border, however, hundreds of undocumented Burmese workers are attempting to enter Thailand daily. The Thai police are now conducting many arrests.

On January 29^th, 2025, Thai police arrested 118 undocumented Burmese workers attempting entry via the “Sangkhlaburi” route which is connected to Three Pagoda Pass, Kyarinnseikyi Township, Karen State.

On January 31^st, 2024, Thai police at the Thong Pha Pum security gate in Kanchanaburi Township arrested 169 undocumented Burmese migrant workers.

“Now, Thai police are conducting more and more arrests. In Burma, the junta is very strict on collecting conscripts and banned young men from leaving the country. So, many are attempting to enter Thailand via irregular routes. The brokers are manipulating the situation and demanding lots of money. But they’ll take no responsibility when their clients are arrested,” said a source who knows the matter.

Undocumented migrant workers have to spend millions, if they are arrested by the Thai police and want to avoid detention.

“If an arrested worker gives bribe money, he/she will be released. Many brokers provide that kind of service. It cost me about three million MMK to enter Thailand (irregularly) and I had to spend the same amount to be released after the arrest. It’s too challenging to go to Thailand this way,” said an undocumented Burmese migrant worker.

According to the data collected, from January to October, 2024, 5,449 undocumented Burmese migrant workers have entered Thailand via irregular routes.

Written by Modinator · Filed Under News