New Zealand already has too many serious criminals, we don’t need to import more.

The Sensible Sentencing Trust has today congratulated Immigration Minister Erica Stanford on her announcement of tighter criteria for asylum seekers who have committed serious crimes in New Zealand.

National Spokesperson, Louise Parsons today said: “The changes Minister Stanford has announced are long-overdue and common-sense. Obtaining refugee status in New Zealand is a great privilege, and those who are unwilling or unable to refrain from creating victims disqualify themselves from living in our beautiful country”

“New Zealand already has too many home-grown serious offenders creating victims needlessly. We don’t need to import more problems to add to that. We can remain a compassionate country taking an annual quota of refugees, but need not do so at avoidable cost to the safety of existing New Zealanders, continued Parsons.

“The announced changes are very welcome to the many victims of serious crime across New Zealand and we thank the Minister for her work on this issue.

We also ask: “Does New Zealand face any barriers deporting serious criminal offenders, whether regular migrants or asylum seekers/refugees to their home countries, and if so, is New Zealand able to restrict applications for residency, or temporary visas to any such countries?” concluded Ms Parsons.

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