Australia holds people in immigration detention for average 689 days

By Al Mayadeen Net
Source: Agencies
16 Feb 2022 18:42

A Human Rights Watch report reveals that Australia holds people in its immigration detention centers for an average of 689 days, compared to 55 days in the US and 14 in Canada.

Australia's Home Affairs Department suggests that 1,459 people currently are being held in several immigration detention centers.

Human Rights Watch confirmed Tuesday that Australia has the highest record for the average period of people held in immigration detention.

According to the human rights organization, the country holds people in its immigration detention centers for an average of 689 days, compared to 55 days in the US and 14 in Canada.

The organization highlighted that eight people have been detained for more than 10 years in immigration detention, as 117 people have been there for five years or more, renewing its call for Australia to end this “harsh and unlawful policy”.

1,459 held in immigration detention centers

The shocking numbers come one month after Australia placed tennis star Novak Djokovic in Melbourne’s Park hotel over failing to meet COVID-19 mandates, where 32 refugees and asylum seekers are also placed.

Australia's Home Affairs Department suggests that 1,459 people currently are being held in several immigration detention centers, among which are more than 70 refugees and asylum seekers that came from Nauru and Papua New Guinea for medical treatment and are experiencing freedom restrictions.

Human Rights Watch Australia researcher, Sophie McNeill, said the numbers show "how completely alone Australia is in the world, in terms of how absolutely horrific indefinite detention is, that there’s no end date."

Costing Australia's government more than $56,000 a night

It is noteworthy that the country's Joint Standing Committee on Migration is "considering a bill to end indefinite and arbitrary immigration detention," noted Human Rights Watch.

The Guardian reported that detaining 32 refugees and asylum seekers in the Park hotel in Melbourne is costing the Australian government more than $56,000 a night.

Human Rights Watch Australia Director, Elaine Pearson, expressed that “detaining people solely due to their immigration status is harmful, expensive and ineffective as a deterrent to migration."

“The Australian government should stop punishing those who may have fled violence and other injustices and offer rights-respecting alternatives to detention," she urged.