The Green Party says latest figures on people in this country without a visa show the need to provide clear pathways to residency for the many people falling through the cracks.
"It's time to lay a clear pathway to residency for the many people already here and part of our local communities, but without a visa," says the Green Party Spokesperson for Immigration, Ricardo Menéndez March.
"Successive governments have enabled too many people to fall through the cracks, with no pathways to residency, treating them as expendable instead of members of our communities.
"Today the Government chose to spin the latest overstayers figures to paint our communities as criminals while introducing a bill to separate more families.
"People without a visa need support. Most are active participants in our communities, have family here, and are also more vulnerable to exploitation. While the Greens have stopped countless families from being deported and their livelihoods destroyed, the Government should do its part.
"An amnesty programme for overstayers is not a novel idea - the New Zealand government offered a residency pathway for thousands of overstayers in the 1980s.
"The Greens have long called for an amnesty for overstayers, and better residency pathways for migrants. This is backed by many organisations such as the Pacific Leadership Forum and the Migrant Workers Association.
"Instead of trying to deport more members of our communities and separate families, the Government ought to ensure that migrants who are part of our communities are treated with respect and dignity," says Ricardo Menéndez March.
