Deportation looms for 71 failing to lodge forms

ONLY 71 “fake refugees” face immediate deportation after a crackdown resulted in thousands of asylum seekers lodging pleas for protection.

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton this year set an October 1 deadline for about 7500 asylum seekers to make a protection claim or be deported.

The asylum seekers were part of a “legacy caseload” who arrived by boat between late 2012 and early 2014.

Mr Dutton (pictured) yesterday said the deadline had prompted all but 71 of the asylum seekers to lodge claims, and those 71 would now be cut off from receiving government benefits.

“All the civil libertarians went crazy because we were forcing people to provide information and this means that we can get their applications processed,” Mr Dutton said. “If they’re found not to be refugees then we can start deportation.”

A lawyer for the assylum seekers said many people were too scared to lodge claims.