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Australian Immigration Creates Orphan Children
November 5th 2004

DIMIA (Dept of Immigration, Multiculturalism and Indigenous Affairs) is planning to deport a Fijian woman with 5 children under 12, leaving the children in Australia with DoCS!

"While I do not approve of people overstaying their visas, it is outrageous that a mother should be taken from her children, who will be staying in Australia under the care of DoCS. It makes no sense for the children, who will be severely traumatised, more than they have already been, after being in Villawood for some time. It also makes no economic sense, as looking after these kids will cost far more time, trouble and money than letting their mother stay and look after them. It is inhuman and a national disgrace!” said Dr Chesterfield-Evans.

The story is that:Sereanna Naikelkele, a long-time Villawood detainee, is being threatened with deportation. As Sereanna is a visa-overstayer from Fiji, this would normally be unsurprising, but her circumstances are somewhat unique. She is accompanied by her 5 children, all under 12, who are NOT to be deported with her - so her family will be further shattered by DIMIA's latest action.

Each of Sereanna's children was born and/or registered in unique circumstances that complicate the matter. As I understand it (but might be a little off track here and there), the two eldest were born in Fiji, with the younger accompanying her to Australia on a tourist visa and the elder following later. In Australia, she had two more children with a naturalised Fijian father from whom she has subsequently separated, which presumably entitles the children to Australian citizenship. Having violated her visa conditions, she was detained at Villawood some time in 2001 and shortly afterwards gave birth to Glen, now 3 years old. The 3 youngest of her 5 children have been with her in Villawood - one of those anomalies where the elder two are Australian citizens but are detained in DIMIA's gulag system of IDCs.

Besides the obvious and reprehensible human tragedy of the separation of a mother from her 5 minor children, the committal of the 5 children to virtual orphan status with its associated unnecessary strains on our social services is just plain stupid.