Immigration

1. According to international refugee law, a refugee is someone who seeks refuge in a foreign country because of war and violence, or out of fear of persecution. The United States recognizes persecution "on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group" as grounds for seeking asylum. Until a request for refuge has been accepted, the person is referred to as an asylum seeker. Only after the recognition of the asylum seeker's protection needs, he or she is officially referred to as a refugee and enjoys refugee status, which carries certain rights and obligations according to the legislation of the receiving country.


2. People have many reasons to leave their country to come to Australia such as War, Famine, Political Opinion, Racism and Religion.


3. A person will only be granted Asylum after recognition of their protection needs which carries certain rights and obligations.


4. Most Asylum Seekers that come to Australia come from countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Iran, Indonesia & Malaysia.


Video Questions


1. The Deal with Malaysia states that Australia will send 800 Asylum Seekers to Malaysia in exchange for 4000 Genuine Refugees who's cases have been verified by the United Nations Refugee Agency.


2. The deal states that they will be treated with dignity and respect by the Malaysia Security Forces and they will have human rights protected. Australia will be covering the costs of health and education expenses. They will also have the right to work.


3. Malaysian Asylum Seekers are often rounded up and put into detention camps. They also face harsh punishments such as caning and breaches of Human Rights.


4. Yes, Children are being sent to Malaysia but they have access to health and education sources.


5. The 500+ people will now be processed in Australia rather than overseas in places such as Papua New Guinea as was previously announced.


6. Refugee Advocates worry that there is no way that the Australian Government can guarantee that Human Rights won't be breached for the Asylum Seekers in Malaysia.


7. The Goal of this swap program is to receive genuine refugees while giving Asylum Seekers to countries with much less of an Asylum Seeker Problem.


8. I don't think it will work because I agree with the fact that the Gillard Government has no way of guaranteeing that Human Rights will not be breached in Malaysia and that the program will get too out of hand for the Australian Government to handle.