A total 971 illegals were nabbed by the Malaysian Immigration Department (JIM) in an overnight crackdown nationwide.

Its director-general Sakib Kusmi said in the 12-hour operation that started at 10pm, 2,182 foreign nationals were screened.

He said the offences they committed included not having identification documents, overstaying and holding unrecognised cards of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.

"Those detained will be placed at immigration detention depots for investigation and follow up action," he said in a statement today.

In CYBERJAYA, deputy director-general (control) Ibrahim Abdullah said the department carried out 1,452 raids from Jan 1 till Feb 19 in which 25,549 foreigners were screened.

Of the total, he said 7,002 illegals, 133 employers and two agents were detained over various offences.

"Until Thursday this year, 8,058 illegals were deported," he told reporters after an operation at a construction site in Cyber 3, Cyberjaya, early this morning.

He said Immigration had checked 415 foreign nationals and detained 297 illegals for various offences.

"They will be sent to the Bukit Jalil Immigration Detention Depot for further investigation," he added.