The Immigration Minister is refusing to say whether the repeat drink-driver he granted residency to is also a war criminal or a terrorist. National raised concerns about the prospect after revealed Iain Lees-Galloway granted residency to another criminal, like he’d done with convicted drug-smuggler Karel Sroubek.
The person granted residency – who arrived in New Zealand sometime after 1999 – has protected person status so they cannot be deported. They went on to be busted and convicted eight times – six for drunk-driving and two for driving without a license.
In 2012, they became a protected person in danger of torture if deported, and in 2013 National Immigration Minister granted them a work visa which was renewed by Immigration New Zealand in 2016.
In May this year, Lees-Galloway granted the person residency. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said both National and Labour governments “have to apply the same conventions when it comes to rules around torture”.
But the Immigration Minister is telling Newshub he “can’t reveal the details of the case”. National leader Simon Bridges isn’t impressed, accusing Lees-Galloway of giving the person the “keys to the kingdom” and offering them to stay as long as they want.
“You want to go on a benefit? Feel free to. You want to vote? Feel free to. It’s not good enough.” National believes an asylum or refugee bid may have failed – people can be refused if they commit serious crimes against humanity.
“I’ve got major concerns about that we didn’t know his identity, where he’s from,” National’s immigration spokesperson Mark Mitchell said. The Immigration Minister refused to say if the person is a terrorist or a war criminal on the grounds it could reveal his identity.
“It potentially could and I don’t want to breach the law… I cannot give you any details,” he told. Lees-Galloway was forced into a mega U-turn after granting convicted drug smuggler Karel Sroubek residency in New Zealand last year.
The reason he granted this other person residency rather than roll temporary visas over like National basically comes down to admin. “There is a point in time when you’ve got to say the bureaucracy of repeatedly issuing temp visas isn’t worth it.”
Source:- Newshub
Featured Image:- The Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway. Photo / Newshub
