Govt urged to release children in immigration depots, detention centres

Putrajaya has been urged to release all children detained by the Immigration Department in its Baitul Mahabbah centres and other facilities and have them placed in community-based alternative detention instead.

According to End Detention Network (EDN), despite Baitul Mahabbah having been established for a year to remove children under 10 from immigration detention depots, the centres still constitute another form of detention with no end in sight.

In a statement, the coalition of 21 civil society organisations and individuals said there were some 170 children reportedly detained in Baitul Mahabbah centres nationwide as of July.

“There are no alternative exit plans for children in Baitul Mahabbah, aside from repatriation. Some refugee children have remained in Baitul Mahabbah facilities for nearly a year, with no plans for their release.

“There has been no evaluation of any kind to determine whether these Baitul Mahabbah centres are beneficial to the children’s well-being, and if they are an efficient use of resources.

“Yet, in August 2024, the home minister stated his intention to have six Baitul Mahabbah centres open by December 2024, and to establish at least six more centres in 2025,” EDN said.

Adding further, it said the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) also has not been given access to any of the immigration detention facilities, including Baitul Mahabbah centres, thus rendering them unable to verify asylum claims by children detained there.

Violation of children’s rights

Children above the age of 10 have also continued to be placed in immigration detention centres as Baitul Mahabbah were classified for only those below 10, EDN said, adding that detaining children in any detention facilities is never acceptable as it would harm them mentally and physically.

“Detention of any form is never in a child’s best interest and is a violation of their rights.

“As such, EDN urges the Home Ministry to release children from Baitul Mahabbah and other immigration detention centres, and allow them to be put in community-based alternatives to detention.

“This can be done by working with child protection organisations who can provide case management support and linkage to the refugee communities.”

On Sept 4 last year, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail announced the opening of Baitul Mahabbah, a temporary settlement for foreign children who were previously placed at the immigration depots.

Saifuddin reportedly said the children would stay at the premises upon completion of their documentation for deportation to their respective country of origin.

He also said the children were transferred to Baitul Mahabbah from the Immigration depots on humanitarian grounds.

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