Refugee Swap?

[Aliantha]

ASYLUM seekers would get a "free ticket" to the US under a controversial refugee swap deal.

The federal Opposition yesterday warned the deal to swap up to 200 asylum seekers a year between the two countries would result in an influx of illegal immigrants trying to use Australia as a backdoor destination to the US.

Opposition immigration spokesman Tony Burke said giving asylum seekers a free ticket to the US was a "strange" deterrent.

"Around the refugee camps around the world there is no greater prize than to be able to get to the United States," he said.

"What John Howard is saying to people now is if you pay a people smuggler and get yourself to Christmas Island, John Howard will get you to New York."

Under the deal – struck in Washington DC last week – a group of 88 Sri Lankan and Burmese asylum seekers being processed by Australian authorities on Nauru would be the first group exchanged for Cuban and Haitian refugees held at Guantanamo Bay.

This has got to be the stupidest thing I've ever heard of. I'm not sure what Australia is going to gain from having Cuban refugees although it's got to be a much better deal for them than Gitmo. I know someone who's been working as a guard in Naru and it's pretty decent there, especially compared to Gitmo (from what I've heard).

[Sundae]

I read about this this morning and thought it was an odd idea. How many people are being held in Gitmo for heaven's sake? Surely less than pitch up in Australia illegally? Surely Australia is going to end up with a lot of asylum seekers sitting around in a holding facility waiting for the Americans to have enough to exchange like for like.

I don't understand the idea that this is supposed to be a deterrant. Try to enter a first world country without the correct legal paperwork/ requirements and we'll.... er.... send you to another first world country instead. Yup, great deterrent. I'm not advocating the "push the boats away with sticks and the problem will solve itself" approach, but as far as political messages go this seems a mixed one at best.

Is it something to do with the flavour of asylum seekers do you think? The Cubans and Haitians already have their own enclaves in the US, so they'd prefer some Sri Lankans and Burmans instead? And Australia quite fancies some rum and cigar style immigrants for a change?

[Aliantha]

I have no idea why Mr Howard might think this would be a good idea. As far as my personal opinion goes, an illegal immigrant is still illegal regardless of where they come from. What difference does it make where they come from? Most of the boat people we get here are from Indonesia or through Indonesia. Sometimes PNG but also from Eastern Europe sometimes.

[elSicomoro]

I read about this the other day, and I thought it was pretty funny...and maybe even worth a try. Indonesians don't seem to be big fans of the US, and could you imagine how crushed some Cubans would be if they didn't get to Miami?*

*DISCLAIMER: Sycamore is pro-immigration...the more the merrier

[TheMercenary]

It appears that this "swap" was a one time event of which different sides of the issue had something to say about the trade. There is no real evidence that this is some new on-going policy between the governments. Sounds more like a bunch of idiots fanning the flames of a regional controversy. Howard can buy all the tickets he wants, it doesn't mean that anyone has to let them into our country except in this one case.

Funny to note this quote from the article: ""The thing that discourages people from people smuggling is the fact that we make it very plain that people will not be allowed to reach the Australian mainland, that they will be processed offshore and that we are not going to have our very generous humanitarian refugee program distorted by people smugglers," he said.

"It will drive home the point that this country will not compromise in relation to illegal immigration." "

Everyone wants to hammer the US for attempting to crack down on illegal immigration but when it comes to their own country they will have none of it.

[Hagar]

Yay. Another entry in the punitive "let's-be-arseholes-to-the-refugees-'cause-we-all-know-they're-terrorists-and-it'll-win-votes" stakes.

And no, I don't think we should just let anybody in, but we should sure as hell not chuck them in an off-shore jail for years, while some goverment dept. decides what to do with them.

I also know that the Australian government has just spent a fortune on the brand new Christmas Island processing/detention centre, which was approved at the height of the "post Tampa" fervour and now will sit almost idle because the flow of "illegals" has pretty much stopped.

Never mind that our domestic health/water/electricity/education systems are all lurching from crisis to crisis, you can blame those on the state governments; at least the feds are "TAKING ACTION" on illegal immigrants.

[/rant] sorry.

[Sundae]

Originally Posted by TheMercenary

Everyone wants to hammer the US for attempting to crack down on illegal immigration but when it comes to their own country they will have none of it.

Really? I have never heard anyone criticise the US for trying to control illegal immigration.

Even a bleeding heart liberal like me believes illegal immigration (in any country) needs to be controlled and completely prevented when possible.

[SadistSecret]

I don't mind immigrants as long as they pay taxes and speak halfway decent English.

[xoxoxoBruce]

If you don't learn their language you're a racist. So get cracking, you've got about a hundred languages to learn.

[elSicomoro]

You only need to learn a few key phrases, primarily "Fuck off."

[Aliantha]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

If you don't learn their language you're a racist. So get cracking, you've got about a hundred languages to learn.

I've never heard this over here. I don't think it'd wash too well if someone tried it.

[xoxoxoBruce]

That's interesting. Does Australia accommodate immigrants by publishing government documents in multiple languages?

[Aliantha]

Nope. Everything is in English. Sometimes instruction manuals come in swedish and japanese though.

English is the language of the land these days. If you don't speak it, you'll have to get someone to interpret.

Edit: I'm going to check on this though. I guess there'd probably be some documents available in other languages, but it's not standard practice if that makes sense.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Yes, it makes sense.... on many levels. A whole lot more sense than the shit that's going on here, good for you.