Up to 80,000 people of different visa categories could potentially be removed to third countries under the Albanian government’s migration law, which is being criticized by legal experts, lawyers and former refugees.
The Albanian government did not detail which countries it has been in talks with in a bill passed by the House of Representatives and examined in a Senate inquiry on Thursday.
The proposed changes to the Migration Act aim to deport non-citizens, including not only those convicted of crimes, and pay these third countries for their part in the removal regime.
It would also grant expanded immunity to government officials and those in third countries involved in the removals, and reverse protection findings for refugees.
The changes come after a landmark ruling found that indefinite immigration detention was unlawful, leading to the release of around 200 non-citizens with various criminal offences.
Released immigration detainees, known as the NZYQ cohort, were strapped with ankle monitors and beaten with curfews.
The Supreme Court ruled earlier in November in a case brought by a stateless Eritrean refugee known as YBFZ.
Under questioning by Liberal Senator James Paterson, Home Office officials revealed that 10 people had had their ankle monitors and curfews reinstated.
Up to 80,000 people of different visa categories could potentially be transferred to third countries under the Albanian government’s migration law. The photo shows Mr Albanese
Newly elected President Donald Trump (pictured) has confirmed his intention to initiate a massive deportation effort once he takes office on January 20, 2025.
This was followed by Greens Senator David Shoebridge pushing First Assistant Immigration Secretary Michael Thomas to also consider which categories of non-citizen visa holders would be affected.
Mr Thomas said 4,452 people on a Bridging Visa E, 986 in immigration detention, 193 in community detention, 246 on a Bridging Visa R from the NZYQ cohort, a further 96 people on the same visa and possibly ‘a fluid cohort’ of up to Er 75,400 people could be admitted.
Home Secretary Stephanie Foster was asked about who would be affected by the legislation.
“Have you informed either or both of the (immigration) ministers (Tony Burke and Assistant Minister Matt Thistlewaite) that this legislation covers more than 80,000 people, well outside the NZYQ cohort?” the senator asked.
“We certainly explained what the definition of a removal pathway for non-citizens was… My understanding is that ministers have an understanding of the wider cohort,” Home Secretary Stephanie Foster responded.
Earlier in the hearing, former Manus Island prisoner and award-winning Kurdish-Iranian writer Behrouz Boochani spoke about the draconian nature of the bill if it passes.
He said his experience in Papua New Guinea indicated the type of countries Australia would negotiate the deportation of non-citizens to.
“Under this bill, you’re going to send them to another country to start over and we know the countries you’re going to send people to, they can detain them, they can deport them and they can torture them,” he said. .
“What Australia has done is banish refugees so they are out of sight and out of mind.”
He called on senators to reject the bill.
“I know that most senators in Australia, probably many of them, have never met a refugee… in their lives. You haven’t met them yet, but they are people. Try to imagine who they are. They’re just people.’