Of 16 asylum seekers who were detained in prison between January 2020 and March 2021, three still remain. Most of the 86 detained asylum seekers between 2015 and 2020 were sent to Mt Eden Corrections Facility. Security reasons used for detaining asylum seekers in prison can be unreasonable, according to Asylum Seekers Support Trust general manager Tim Maurice. Asylum Seekers Support Trust general manager Tim Maurice said asylum seekers should be detained for a maximum period of 28 days, and never in prison. "It doesn't make sense to put asylum seekers in prison, you don't want me to become a criminal so why treat me like one?"

Source: New Zealand Herald May 17, 2021 07:57 UTC