New Zealand Judge Rules Detaining Refugees Illegal
A New Zealand policy of detaining almost all asylum seekers, set in response to the September 11 attacks, has been ruled unlawful, opening the door to compensation claims that could cost the government millions of dollars. One asylum seeker has filed a claim for 0,000 (0,000 in US dollars) for wrongful arrest, and more are expected to follow. About 350 asylum seekers are affected by the judgment.
Justice David Baragwanath declared the policy “fundamentally defective” and said it breached the United Nations Convention on Refugees, which allows detention only where necessary, where there was a “real risk” of someone absconding or of a criminal offence being committed. Those detained included pregnant women and children.
***
UK to Fund Tunnel Security in France
The UK has pledged £5 million in new security measures at the French end of the Channel Tunnel as part of a package of measures to encourage the closure of the nearby Sangatte refugee camp, described as a springboard for illegal immigrants. France agreed to create a timetable for its closure Tuesday night, and it will be negotiated by London and Paris next month. The £5 million will go toward installing fences and security at the depot and to install sophisticated detection equipment designed to prevent stowaways.
The measures were agreed at a meeting in London between UK Home Secretary David Blunkett and French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy.
Included in the agreement:
* UK will fund £5 million security measures at Frethun
* More UK-France joint police operations
* UK will consider compulsory ID cards
* France will set a date for closing Sangatte after UK’s Asylum and Immigration Bill is in force
According to the Home Office, 1,000 illegal immigrants attempt to access the UK through the Channel Tunnel each week.
***
Human Rights Groups Label Russia’s New Immigration Measures “Draconian”
Measures taken to curb illegal immigration in Russia are depriving the economy of vital migrant workers at a time when it’s population is shrinking by 700,000 people each year, said human rights groups and refugees’ advocates in a joint resolution circulated to the press. The new citizenship law adopted by Russia’s parliament “brings down an iron curtain” on immigrants from the former Soviet Union, many who have a legitimate claim to becoming citizens of Russia, by establishing quotas on the number of people who can enter Russia from any one country. The law was strongly backed by Russian lawmakers and voters, where there is growing hostility toward the country’s 12 million illegal residents.
Disclaimer: This newsletter is provided as a public service and not intended to establish an attorney client relationship. Any reliance on information contained herein is taken at your own risk. The information provided in this article has not been updated since its original posting and you should not rely on it until you consult counsel to determine if the content is still valid. We keep older articles online because it helps in the understanding of the development of immigration law.