Beijing starts crackdown on illegal aliens

 　　BEIJING, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Foreigners living in Beijing may find themselves greeting police at their doors amid a crackdown on foreigners illegally entering, residing or working in the city that began on Tuesday.

　　The campaign, which will run until the end of August, will include household checks in Wangjing, Sanlitun and Wudaokou, areas of the city known for their high concentration of foreign residents, as well as on-the-spot street checks that will require foreigners to present valid¹ identification, according to a spokesman from the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau.

　　Police have also opened a tip hotline and will tighten² reviews of visa applications during the period, the spokesman said, adding that the tasks will be completed by officers capable of speaking foreign languages and trained in the handling of related matters.

　　Foreigners found to be violating relevant laws may face penalties ranging from fines or detention³ to deportation⁴, according to the police.

　　"There are no special groups before the law. We will protect the legal rights of all people, including foreigners, who work and live in Beijing while punishing those who violate the law," the spokesman said.

　　Although not officially confirmed, the campaign is believed to be linked to the detention of a British man who allegedly attempted to sexually assault a Chinese woman on the side of a road in downtown Beijing on May 8.

　　According to data provided by the city government, Beijing is home to about 120,000 foreigners.

　　Gina Mitchelmore, a South African national working at an international kindergarten, said that for her and others who have followed protocol⁵, the campaign may only affect them in a small way.

　　"Other than the possibility that we may be forced to carry our passports at all times, I don't foresee any direct effect on my own life here," Mitchelmore said.

　　According to Chinese law, it is illegal for foreigners to enter China without a valid visa issued by Chinese authorities or a legal passport, as well as through unofficial ports of entry.

　　It is also illegal for foreigners to live in China on expired visas or residence permits, as well as acquire paid jobs without a proper work visa.

1 valid   

adj.有确实根据的；有效的；正当的，合法的

参考例句：

• His claim to own the house is valid.他主张对此屋的所有权有效。
• Do you have valid reasons for your absence?你的缺席有正当理由吗？

2 tighten   

v.(使)变紧；(使)绷紧

参考例句：

• Turn the screw to the right to tighten it.向右转动螺钉把它拧紧。
• Some countries tighten monetary policy to avoid inflation.一些国家实行紧缩银根的货币政策，以避免通货膨胀。

3 detention   

n.滞留，停留；拘留，扣留；(教育)留下

参考例句：

• He was kept in detention by the police.他被警察扣留了。
• He was in detention in connection with the bribery affair.他因与贿赂事件有牵连而被拘留了。

4 deportation   

n.驱逐，放逐

参考例句：

• The government issued a deportation order against the four men.政府发出了对那4名男子的驱逐令。
• Years ago convicted criminals in England could face deportation to Australia.很多年以前，英国已定罪的犯人可能被驱逐到澳大利亚。

5 protocol   

n.议定书，草约，会谈记录，外交礼节

参考例句：

• We must observe the correct protocol.我们必须遵守应有的礼仪。
• The statesmen signed a protocol.那些政治家签了议定书。