KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – At least 255 Bangladeshis were detained in a nationwide crackdown against illegal immigrants, local media reported.

About 1,565 illegal workers have been detained since the crackdown began early Tuesday (January 21st) – one day after the deadline to legalise their status passed, Bernama reported.

All illegal immigrants will be deported to their countries of origin within seven days and "their repatriation will not be borne by the Malaysian government, but by their employers or the respective foreign embassies", Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.

According to Bangladesh's Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry, only 30,000 of 202,000 eligible Bangladeshis applied to legalise their status. Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said the government would not help any Bangladeshis who were in Malaysia illegally.

The prospect of over 170,000 illegal Bangladeshis facing deportation would only worsen the country's chronic unemployment issues, the Naya Diganta reported.