The campaign that was officially announced on August 24 will run until end of November. Over 130,000 personnel from immigration, police, army and others have been designated for the operation.

“According to the Malaysian government’s announcement, those whose work permits don’t match with their employment are targeted for arrest and their employers are punished with a fine,” said Myo Lwin Oo, treasurer of the Ka Pone (7) days religious association. The association provides assistance for Myanmar nationals in Malaysia.

“Some Myanmar citizens enter with legal documents and work permits, but they later change their employment without informing the government. Others overstay their visas,” Myo Lwin Oo said.

The arrests came after Malaysian authorities investigated the status of 8,100 foreigners living in 50 different areas. Over 2,400 people were detained as a result; approximately 20-percent were Myanmar citizens.

“Because of the mass operation, there are now nearly 200 Myanmar nationals attempting to cross the border back into their home country every day,” said Ko Mot Seit, a customs broker, “this costs around 900 Ringgit ($275 US) per individual, and places them in the hands of a broker who brings them to Yangon. The trip lasts about 3 days.”

The presence of Myanmar citizens in the Muslim-majority Malaysia has become more controversial following clashes between Muslims and Buddhists in Kuala Lumpur that left 4 dead, according to a news report from Channel News Asia. It also didn’t help matters after a recent government report found that more than half of the 257,000 Myanmar nationals working in the country are either undocumented or illegal. In June of this year, the Malaysian government announced it would begin working with Myanmar to repatriate thousands of its citizens back across the border.

The Myanmar embassy in Malaysia reported to be screening individuals that were arrested this month in order confirm their citizenry before helping them return home.