Current essay quandry

Just thought I would waste a bit of time so I could share with you the current essay Iam writing;

due friday -worth 50%
2250 words

• choose one aspect of Australian's immigration policies and describe the
  pertinent aspects of policy briefly
• Analyse the impact of these policies; that is, analyse where you think these
  policies have a humane and ethical impact and where they might fall short of
  these goals
• Refer to the AASW Code of ethics and analyse the dilemmas and contradictions
  that arise for Social Workers
• Speculate what impact these developments might have on case work practice
  and how these might be dealt with
• Conclude with recommendations you would like to see to the policy area you
  have selected.

~

I have decided to write on the humanitarian policy program. That is the refugee - incorporating the "lawful" way of applying for a visa (applying from overseas OR in Australia on another visa) and the "unlawful" way (ie -attempting to come here illegally). This is SO tough, the legislation is changing rapidly probably due to the political sensitiveness of the situation. The rules are very confusing and I can barely undertand all the rules and regulations put forward by the Immigration department, how would someone who doesn't speak English and possibly traumatised possibly cope with this? There are all these crazy rules and it seems that if you come here illegally, you are NOT eligible for permanent residency? And you get mandatory detention for your effort, that is if you are lucky to make it onto mainland - given the Governments creating Offshore excise - eg Nauru and PNG to take would be asylum seekers to another country where they are held whilst applications are processed. The Gov says this will act as a deterrant for this illegal behaviour, but all I see is imprisonment and punishment for displaced people who could possibly have experienced great trauma prior to arriving.

They say it isn't correctional imprisonment, but well, when you detain someone in a facility what are the differences? At least prisoners get detained with a sentence. From what I can tell asylum seekers get put in them until their applications have been processed, for which there is no time limit. And then, they get charged for the accomodation on deportation. 'Hey Mr. B - you are more than welcome to come back here, as long as you pay your $150,000 bill we might offer you a visa'. $150k to be locked up in a detention facility.

Innocent till proven guilty? Or naughty person trying to take away our wealth till proven as a refugee.

I can't quite formulate why this makes me feel ill, but this:

This practice reflects Australia's sovereign right to determine which
non-citizens are admitted or permitted to remain in Australia and the conditions
under which they may be removed.

is like flexing our muscles and saying ... oh yes, you want this - but only WE can determine whether you are worthy..and first you must pass health AND character tests mawhaahahahahahahahahahha!

And obviously this goes against most of what Social Work stands for ie

'The social Work profession is commited to pursuit and maintenance of human
well-being. Social Work aims to maximise the development of human
potential and the fufillment of human needs, through an equal committment
to:

• Working with and enabling people to achieve the best possible levels of
  personal and social well-being
• working to achieve social justice through social development and social
  change

So yes, I have much thought on this essay - now if only I could make myself write the bugger. On that note, I best be off to magically write 1000 words.