New Zealand's government will bring forward legislation on Wednesday designed to strengthen deportation, asylum and immigration enforcement measures, the government said. Authorities say the proposed changes aim to respond to serious criminal offending, exploitative behaviour against migrants and claims made in bad faith.
Under the bill, the threshold for when a resident can be made liable for deportation following serious criminal offending would be extended from 10 years to 20 years. The proposed law would also increase the maximum jail term for migrant exploitation from seven years to 10 years, and broaden immigration officials' powers to act where false or misleading information has been supplied during the immigration process.
Immigration Minister Erica Stanford framed the measures as giving officials “proportionate tools” to manage immigration risks while preserving a system that is fair, functional and effective. The bill must pass three readings in parliament before becoming law; the government holds a parliamentary majority and therefore the legislation is expected to pass.
Alongside the bill, the government will table a parliamentary paper outlining additional asylum changes. That paper would enable officials to take into account serious crimes committed in New Zealand when deciding refugee status, the government statement said.
Stanford said 14 known refugee claimants had been convicted of serious offences in New Zealand, including murder, serious sexual and drug crimes, and arson.
The package also contains measures intended to speed action against asylum claimants judged to be acting in bad faith. Examples cited in the government statement include individuals who deliberately seek publicity to bolster asylum claims and claimants who fail to attend biometric appointments without good reason.
Officials framed the legislative proposals as part of a broader international trend where governments are strengthening immigration and asylum systems under political pressure to deter abuse, remove non-citizens convicted of serious offences and maintain public support for refugee protections.
The government said the changes aim to balance stronger enforcement powers with safeguards designed to keep the overall system just and effective. Details of how the expanded powers will be applied and operationalised will be subject to the parliamentary process and further administrative guidance.