Ministry denies deportation review delays

The Justice Ministry has defended itself against claims that a Deportation Review Tribunal backlog is keeping criminals in New Zealand.

NZ First MP Peter Brown says a backlog of 107 cases is causing unacceptable delays.

The average time from receipt of an appeal to a final decision is 20 months - up from an average of eight months in 2000-01.

Mr Brown said yesterday that immigrants who committed serious crimes were being allowed to stay.

He called on the Government to ensure the process was done more speedily.

Justice Ministry special jurisdictions general manager Stuart White said only 13 of the cases had been before the tribunal for more than two years.

The 107 cases were not a backlog but simply the total of cases awaiting a decision.

He said there was no definition of backlog and some of the older cases would be on hold until the person neared the end of their jail sentence before an appeal could be heard.

Of the 13 cases, eight involved deportation for criminal offending and the rest were appeals for revocation of residence permits and did not involve criminal offending.

The eight was made up of:

* Four people serving jail sentences - they cannot be deported until finishing sentences regardless of the outcome of a review.

* One had been heard by the tribunal, which reserved its decision.

* Three were scheduled to be heard this month, next month and December/January.

Mr Stuart said the tribunal's workload had doubled in recent years and more members were appointed to progress cases.

The tribunal now has six members including a chairperson and deputy chairperson and since June has been able to operate as two panels (the Immigration Act requires a quorum of three members for sittings).

- NZPA