Media Release

28 April 2004

Immigrant Criminals Welcomed By Tribunal

New Zealand First has called for an urgent review into the Deportations Review Tribunal after discovering that every one of the deportation orders overturned since 2000 involved individuals convicted of serious crimes.

Answers to Written Questions to the Minister for Courts show that between 1 January 2000 and April 2004 11 people had deportation orders overturned and each had earlier been convicted and imprisoned for a serious crime.

Nine of the 11 were classified as “violent criminals”, guilty of charges including assault, aggravated robbery, rape and kidnapping. The other two, were an arsonist/fraudster and a cocaine importer/dealer.

Associate Immigration spokesperson Dail Jones said the deportation system should ensure that foreign criminals are sent out of New Zealand and not give them further chances to offend here.

”How can the Deportation Review Tribunal allow foreign rapists and kidnappers to remain in New Zealand after they have been rightly ordered to be deported?

“It is ludicrous to allow people to have the option of appealing against deportation orders at the taxpayers’ expense, let alone allowing them to stay here at further expense.

“What’s next with our PC Government – an immigration quota for convicted killers?

“It’s time we stopped this absurd practice of opening our doors to criminals. We have more than enough of our own,” said Mr Jones.

ENDS

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