ICE-style immigration raids won't be used in Australia, minister says
10 hours ago
- Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke assures Australians that detaining visa overstayers will not lead to ICE-style raids seen in the US.
- The government will create 250 beds and a 100-strong Border Force team to detain overstayers or encourage voluntary departure, returning to pre-2015 policies.
- Detention centres were previously used for overstayers until 2015, when they were prioritized for criminals awaiting deportation, causing a backlog.
- Opposition from Greens compares the policy to Tony Abbott's era and warns of private prison abuse, while experts say operations will be soft and rights-respecting.
- The number of visa overstayers has grown to over 77,000, and the government also plans to curb 'visa hopping' and disingenuous asylum claims.