DIBP - 'Voluntary return' of asylum seekers

In July 2014, the Australian Lawyers Alliance applied under freedom of information laws to the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, seeking information on the number of asylum seekers who have been ‘voluntarily returned’.

We also sought information regarding the countries to which they have returned and the payment of reintegration assistance to these individuals.

We found that the Commonwealth deported 1,151 people from September 2013 to 16 July 2014 on the basis of 'voluntary return'.

1,097 ‘returnees’ were paid reintegration assistance. 54 people did not receive reintegration assistance. It is questionable as to why these people did not receive such support.

In this period, the Commonwealth spent a total of US$ 2,914,819 providing reintegration assistance payments.

385 people were voluntarily returned from an offshore processing country. Whether these people would have received appropriate independent legal advice is highly questionable.

Furthermore, 375 of these 385 people were directly deported from an offshore processing country.
The highest number of voluntary returns was to Iran: with 773 people in total deported during this period.

Further:

• 773 people were 'voluntarily returned' to Iran
• 102 people were 'voluntarily returned' to Iraq
• 102 people were 'voluntarily returned' to Sri Lanka
• 87 people were 'voluntarily returned' to Vietnam
• 32 people were 'voluntarily returned' to India
• 21 people were 'voluntarily returned' to Lebanon
• 34 people were 'voluntarily returned' elsewhere.

The full document can be viewed on the Department of Immigration and Border Protection's FOI Disclosure Log here.