New Zealand moves to tighten immigration rules

ISTANBUL

New Zealand will introduce an immigration amendment bill on Wednesday to tighten the country's immigration rules.

The Immigration (Enhanced Risk Management) Amendment Bill includes "practical and targeted changes to strengthen New Zealand’s immigration system and ensure it remains fit for today’s challenges," the government said in a statement.

"Immigration is important for New Zealand, and we are committed to ensuring we continue to attract the skilled people we need, while making it easier to address migrant exploitation, serious criminals, and immigration breaches," Immigration Minister Erica Stanford said.

The new bill includes several changes to ensure "we have the right, proportionate tools to manage immigration risks," she said.

Proposed changes, many announced last year, include strengthening the ability to deport individuals who have committed serious crimes by extending the period of residence during which a person can be subject to deportation from 10 to 20 years.

A parliamentary paper will accompany the bill, outlining proposals for additional changes aimed at "protecting and strengthening the system around asylum claims."

The parliamentary paper proposes amendments to consider serious crimes committed after arriving in New Zealand but before refugee status is determined, as well as measures to better manage asylum claimants who act in bad faith or fail to attend biometric appointments.

"There are currently 14 refugee known claims from people who have been convicted of serious offences in New Zealand, including murder, serious sexual and drug offences, and arson. This change will mean that Immigration New Zealand can take convictions for crimes committed in New Zealand into account when making a decision on their refugee claim," Stanford said.

The bill is expected to have its first reading in the coming weeks before progressing through the full parliamentary process.