STEP
STEP
STEP
01
02
03
MANDATORY QUARANTINE
IDENTIFICATION
PRISON-LIKE STRUCTURE
STEP
04
STEP
05
AFTER A NEGATIVE DECISION PRE-REMOVAL DETENTION
3.3 De Facto detention on Arrival to the CCAC
Every asylum seeker who first enters the main sections of the CCAC is served
with an order for "restriction of freedom" for up to 25 days for "identification
purposes", resulting in their blanket de facto detention. Until November 2022 the
RIS determined that identification procedures were completed upon issuance
of the "red card"- the asylum applicant’s ID. From November 2022 until the time
of writing, the RIS considers that the identification procedures are completed
earlier, which is after the full registration interview.
Through I Have Right’s work monitoring their beneficiaries ability to leave and
enter the structure, we have observed the following in practice. Firstly, from
September 2021 until April 2022, new arrivals without red cards could leave the
CCAC for appointments with lawyers, as long as they requested permission
from the RIS the day before. Second, Until November 2022 the authorities strictly
prevented newly arrived asylum seekers without a red card from leaving. This
meant that many people were prevented from seeking legal assistance prior to
their asylum interview as often people were interviewed before receiving their
red card. Third, since November 2022, newly arrived asylum seekers, despite not
yet being issued with a red card are entitled to leave the CCAC upon
completion of the full registration interview. While many of I Have Rights’
beneficiaries have been able to leave after this point, others have been
prevented from leaving due to the privately-contracted staff of G4S not
permitting people to leave.
Finally, for people who are without a red card due to receiving a rejection on
their asylum application, in practice they are mostly able to leave the CCAC by
using their "Police Note" which acts as an interim identification document. I Have
Rights is greatly concerned that the detention of asylum seekers in the CCAC is
in practice inconsistently applied, which creates uncertainty for asylum seekers
in the CCAC and for this practice to be challenged. Moreover, the restriction of
people for identification purposes and/ or without a red card within the
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