Minister says detaining visa overstayers will not lead to ICE
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has clarified that new measures to detain visa overstayers will not mirror US-style immigration raids. The government plans to increase detention capacity to encourage voluntary departures.
Why it matters
This policy addresses the management of visa compliance while attempting to mitigate public concern over the human rights implications of detention.
Tony Burke has announced changes to cut down the number of visa overstayers. ( ABC News: Matt Roberts )
The home affairs minister has assured Australians that a push to detain visa overstayers will not lead to ICE-style immigration raids.
Immigration experts say detaining visa overstayers was an ordinary part of the immigration system until 2015, when facilities were prioritised for criminals awaiting deportation.
An expanded Border Force team of 100 officials and 250 new beds will work to detain overstayers or encourage them to leave.
Link copied Share Share article A 100-strong Border Force team being established to remove 77,000 visa overstayers will not bring ICE-style immigration raids seen in the United States to Australia, the home affairs minister has assured.
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