7. PETER BROWN (Deputy Leader—NZ First) Link to this
to the Minister of Immigration
How long has the immigration profiling group he described last night on One News been in existence and how many decisions to allow people into New Zealand from high-risk countries are yet to be re-examined by the group?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE (Minister of Immigration) Link to this
The immigration profiling group was established in June 2005. It is primarily responsible for processing and deciding visa and permit applications that present a risk to New Zealand’s international reputation. Another function of the immigration profiling group is to review past decisions made since May 2003. Applications covering approximately 1,000 people are still to be considered.
Will the Minister confirm that the immigration profiling group was set up in the wake of revelations made by New Zealand First that former members of Saddam Hussein’s regime were living in New Zealand, and can he confirm that the fact that all immigration applications from high-risk countries are now processed in New Zealand also came about as a result of those revelations?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
The Government has for some time been increasing scrutiny on applications from higher-risk profile countries. The immigration profiling group was established as part of that ongoing work.
Steve ChadwickHon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
The Government’s ongoing programme has included implementing a substantial range of border security measures during the last 5 years. They include passing the transnational organised crime Act, introducing Advance Passenger Processing, establishing the immigration fraud and investigations and intelligence units, establishing the immigration profiling group, and reviewing the Immigration Act to simplify and streamline the law, in order to further strengthen border security.
Keith LockeIs not the big drop in visitor visa approvals for people from several high-risk countries due primarily to not terrorism dangers, or anything like that, but the immigration profiling group’s massive overreaction to overstayer problems; how else does he explain the huge drop in approvals for people from, for example, Zimbabwe, from 924 visas in 2004-05 to 306 last year, and people from Burma, from 116 to 72, and why is he punishing, for example, Zimbabwean New Zealanders by preventing their family members from visiting them?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
In short, no. I believe that the immigration profiling group is making a valuable contribution to the ongoing need of New Zealand for enhanced border security. That is a core part of our immigration policy, along with facilitation of those migrants we need to assist our skill shortage.
Why does the number of high-risk countries identified by the Minister differ from the number identified by his predecessor, and what has happened in the past year that has allowed the Immigration Service to reduce the number of high-risk countries from 54 to 21?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
I am advised that currently 23 countries are identified as higher-risk and have their applications processed through the immigration profiling group. There have never been 54 countries whose citizens have had their applications processed through this unit.
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith Link to this
If the profiling group is going back over the cases of some thousands of immigrants from high-risk countries who have already been given permits and granted approval to be in New Zealand, how many so far have been found to have gained access to New Zealand on fraudulent grounds and had their permits revoked?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
I am not prepared at this time to put that information in the public domain, as it is sensitive to the work of the profiling group.
Will the Minister clarify the situation: how far is the profiling group going back in terms of looking at decisions to allow people in from high-risk countries—is it pre-9/11; if not, will he tell us how far back it is going?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
I can confirm that the member is quite safe. May 2003 is the start date in terms of applications being subject to routine scrutiny. Of course, if there is evidence to suggest that an individual application from prior to that date is worth reconsideration, that reconsideration would be offered. I have received no such information regarding the member.
I seek leave to table an article from the Sunday Star-Times of 8 January, detailing Maurice Williamson’s campaigning for an Iraqi couple who have been prevented from visiting their family because of the harsh immigration profiling.