LONDON – In what could bring in shmae for the UK government, the federal government has admitted to issuing invalid visas to the 149 individuals released from indefinite immigration detention.
This bombshell revelation comes with potential ramifications for those re-detained for breaching reporting and curfew conditions following their release.
The significant development concerns the high-profile NZYQ immigration case and well placed sources say that the visas granted to these detainees, freed following a high court decision, were deemed illegitimate due to what authorities are branding as a “technical issue.”
Consequently, individuals charged with violating the conditions of these visas may see their charges dropped, pending the issuance of fresh visas.
Commenting on the controversy, Immigration Minister Andrew Giles assured that the issue is swiftly being addressed without altering visa conditions. He clarified that the problem stems from a technicality in the Bridging Visa R, which requires individuals to be in a detention facility upon its grant.
Giles, who is likely to face flak, emphasized that steps are being taken to ensure public safety amidst this legal conundrum.
The government asserts that it recently became aware of the issue, which dates back to the visa class’s inception in 2013 under the previous Labor administration. Amendments to regulations are underway to rectify the situation, with reissuance of legitimate visas ongoing. However, this development implies that charges against some individuals may be dropped due to the invalidity of their visas.
Efforts to obtain comments from relevant authorities, including the Australian Federal Police and the Department of Home Affairs, are ongoing. Stay tuned for further updates on this evolving story.
