Australia on Friday announced it would begin releasing immigrants held in indefinite detention. This landmark decision comes after Australia’s High Court ruled against indefinitely holding immigrants, marking a significant shift from the country’s longstanding policy. The ruling was prompted by the case of a stateless Rohingya man, previously detained for child sexual offenses and unable to be deported. Under the earlier policy, Australia aimed to discourage new arrivals by threatening anyone arriving without a visa with imprisonment, irrespective of a person’s individual situation. The ruling challenges a 2004 decision permitting indefinite detention and aligns more closely with international law, as advocated by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). Should the immigraants be covered under the UNHCR laws?
