Source: MIL-OSI Submissions
Source: Matt Robson
Open Letter – From former New Zealand Government Minister and Immigration barrister, Matt Robson, to Minister of Immigration Iain Lees-Galloway, urging Immigration Minister to extend all visas “as an act of social solidarity and relief for migrants and refugees”.
Open Letter follows to the Minister of Immigration, Iain Lees-Galloway:
Dear Iain,
Good Morning
I am sure that your officials and you are responding sensibly and with a sense of social solidarity to all visa and non visa holders and asylum seekers.
There have, however, been disturbing reports of visa and non-visa holders getting short shrift from INZ when they enquire about their status.
Rather than having the “case by case” approach that INZ is reported to be taking, I suggest it is time for you , on your part of the battlefront for international solidarity, to have a 6 months (it could be even more generous) moratorium for all visa and non-visa holders who may or are be adversely affected.
INZ front line workers, already stressed from their impossible workloads and the ongoing dreadful crisis of large backlogs- distressing particularly of course for the applicants – can concentrate on getting backlogs down, freed as they will be from the bureaucratic nit picking over individual cases.
There should be an automatic extension for all visas, a cessation of compliance action and an assurance of health care for all.
It is worth thinking of allowing all those young migrants here, with or without visas, a chance to work where we have shortages. That is my amnesty proposal. Have a look at the cabinet record of what the Alliance -Labour government did in 2000 .I am happy to consult as I was the consultation minister for immigration.
These steps will also mean that we do not send these migrants out into the uncertain and dangerous world of travel and closed borders.
That would also be an act of international solidarity as most countries struggle to find the resources to cope.
I look forward to your response.
In solidarity
Matt
Hon Matthew Robson
