Immigration Detainees Who Broke Law Won’t Be Charged Due to ‘Technical Issue’

People who were being held in indefinite immigration detention, whom the government was forced to release after the High Court ruled that holding them was illegal, probably won’t face charges for breaching their visa conditions since they were released. After the detainees were released, federal parliament passed emergency laws imposing strict visa conditions and surveillance including ankle bracelets and curfews, but anyone who failed to abide by those restrictions will now not be punished. While not all of the 149 people turned loose as a result of the High Court’s decision in November 2023 have since committed crimes, several have. But a “technical error” has resulted in the Department of Home Affairs having to reissue all but one of their visas, meaning that the 10 offenders among them will not be prosecuted for breaching their visa conditions, such as failing to abide by their curfew or reporting to police....