Thread: 14 children on latest asylum seeker boat

14 children on latest asylum seeker boat

Updated September 11, 2011 06:38:46

Immigration officials have confirmed 14 unaccompanied children were on board the latest asylum seeker boat to arrive on Christmas Island.

The boat carrying 72 asylum seekers was intercepted by Australian authorities on Friday and is the first since the Federal Government's people swap deal with Malaysia was scuttled by the High Court.

The Immigration Department has confirmed there are 54 single men in the group, one woman and 14 asylum seekers claiming to be unaccompanied minors.

The asylum seekers will have health and security checks on Christmas Island and they will be processed in Australia.

Federal Cabinet and caucus will meet on Monday to settle on a new policy after the High Court rejected the Malaysia swap deal.

Yesterday Attorney-General Robert McClelland told ABC's News 24 the Migration Act could be amended to allow offshore processing.

"We believe an amendment is appropriate. Obviously the Cabinet and caucus have to consider these issues but yes we believe that an amendment is desirable to put offshore processing beyond doubt, we think that should be done," he said.

But the Government has signalled Nauru is unlikely to be part of its new asylum seeker policy.

Immigration Minister Chris Bowen has released financial estimates that revealed it would cost just under $1 billion to process asylum seekers on Nauru over the next four years.

"So we know that Nauru is an ineffective option, now we know it's an expensive one as well," he said.

Mr Bowen stopped short of ruling out Nauru completely, but said the new advice proved it was no silver bullet for people smuggling.

However, Mr Bowen said he is still negotiating with the Opposition in the hopes of reaching a bipartisan position.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-09-11/1 ... at/2880120

This is a problem for us too.

The parents will send their kids over here, let them get asylum and then suddenly show up wanting to reunite. Also, the parents could already be here illegally. They know Americans are suckers and wouldn't turn a kid down. They are using those children as bait for citizenship for the whole family. These kids are just being used as an anchor for another relative.

We need to return these children to their homelands and their homelands need to care for them.

Dixie

Maybe they could use some Mexicans, Guatemalans, Salvadorans ect ect ect ect. We have plenty to spare. According to scuttlebutt they are valuable and hardworking, will work for cheap, do not take up a lot of room , as they will thrive in overcrowded conditions that most humans cannot tolerate. Cheap to feed. It says in the instruction manual , " Just add beans rice and tortillas ." No other amenities needed. Indoor toilet facilities optional. We will trade 10 of these valuable workers for just one half a person , for all you can spare. Act now for this is a limited one time offer. free lifetime guarantee , we will replace at any time free of charge.