Pulic security authorities in Xincai County, central China's Henan Province, repatriated six Myanmar women last week, who were illegal immigrants and had married locals.

Henan authorities have recently carried out a campaign to track down illegal immigrants, the Legal Evening News reported yesterday.

But how many foreigners have been repatriated in the campaign has not been released, the newspaper said.

In the recent two years, "wives" from Myanmar have become an increasingly noticeable presence in some areas of the province.

Poverty is considered a major reason for the illegal immigration of Myanmar women and illegal marriage.

Citing Cai Xiangyang, a Myanmar language expert who worked as an interpreter in the case, the newspaper said in those less developed areas in Myanmar, some Myanmar people hoped to go to China to have a better life through marriage with Chinese.

However, poverty is also a reason why some Henan people were willing to marry Myanmar women.

An old villager surnamed Zhang, whose son married a Myanmar "wife," said they should build a new house and prepare betrothal gifts for marrying. Although it is not a rich village, marriage still costs 20,000 to 30,000 yuan (US$2,500 to US$3,750). It's much cheaper to marry a Myanmar "wife," costing more than 10,000 yuan, he said.