Lower House discusses foreigner affairs bill

AMMAN — The Lower House on Tuesday endorsed several articles of the draft residency and foreigner affairs law, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

Under the bill, foreigners are assigned a personal number to regulate their entry, exit, registration, residency permits and the duration of their stay.

The draft law also lists the foreigners exempted from obtaining residency permits and stiffens penalties against violators.

Article 5 of the draft law grants the interior minister additional authority to allow the entry of foreigners from any country. 

Responding to questions on this issue, Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour said the Kingdom receives envoys of heads of state or representatives of foreign entities whose missions require secrecy without the need to be registered at the border.

He added that the House has the capacity to supervise the work of the interior minister.

Interior Minister Salameh Hammad said there are emergency cases and political situations that require quick processing without waiting for the Cabinet to convene and take a decision, noting that the law serves the Kingdom, not individuals. 

He said the new articles are meant to deal with those who cross into Jordan from Syria on humanitarian grounds, according to Petra.

The minister also cited Yemenis who hold no official documents and enter by air for medical reasons. 

The present law has been in force since 1973. 

Parliament will resume its deliberations over the law on Sunday.