Number of visas cancelled on character grounds increases tenfold in last decade

Migrants and refugees with criminal records are disproportionately targeted for detention or deportation post-sentence, with visa cancellations on character grounds increasing tenfold since 2014, resulting in nearly 1,000 people currently in immigration detention, 824 with criminal histories, and an average detention time of 513 days. Non-citizens face harsher prison experiences and limited post-release support compared to citizens, leading to a “two-track prison system.” Recent High Court rulings have sparked debate over punitive measures such as ankle monitors and curfews, prompting calls to overhaul mandatory visa cancellation laws and improve rehabilitation programs for non-citizens in Australia.

Full Article