Australia
has deported another group of Sri Lankan asylum seekers today from
Christmas Island, a territory of Australia where illegal immigrants to
the country are detained.
A group
of 25 Sri Lankan irregular maritime arrivals has been flown home from
Christmas Island to Colombo involuntarily, Minister for Immigration and
Citizenship Brendan O'Connor announced Friday. All were recent arrivals
but were not from the group of 66 which arrived at Geraldton earlier
this month, of whom 38 have already been returned to Sri Lanka.
The
group has been advised of their status and that they were subject to
removal from Australia. None of the 25 people has raised issues that
engaged Australia's international obligations.
"Without
a valid visa they had no legal right to remain in Australia," the
Minister said in a statement. With the latest send-off, since August 13,
2012, Australia has returned 820 Sri Lankans home involuntarily and a
total of 1,029 both voluntarily and involuntarily.
"Returning this group to Sri Lanka sends the powerful message that
people who pay smugglers are throwing their money away and risking their
lives in the process," Mr. O'Connor said.
He said
Australia is committed to breaking the evil people smuggling trade,
deterring people from taking dangerous journeys by boat and saving lives
at sea.
"When
people arrive in Australia without authorization, any claims they make
for their reasons to travel to Australia are assessed by the Department
of Immigration. If these claims are not covered by the refugee
convention, they will be returned to their homeland wherever possible,"
he said.
"There
is no visa on arrival, there is no speedy outcome, and there is no
special treatment," he said adding that Australia will continue to
transfer people to offshore detention centers in Nauru and Manus Island.
According to the Australian Minister, people returned involuntarily do
not have access to reintegration assistance
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