A photo of what appeared to be New Zealand immigration compliance officers inside a house where a Tongan family lived has ignited heated debates on social media.
Many users are weighing in on the implications of the image, claiming that law enforcement officers were apprehending a family member due to allegations of visa overstay.
Immigration New Zealand could not immediately be reached for comment.
The photo purportedly shows a female officer placing her hand on a man who is hugging a child, believed to be his daughter, with two other officers standing by their side.
While the community agreed that the officers were doing their job, many raised concerns about what they had described as the actions of certain members within the Tongan community, accusing them of allegedly alerting immigration authorities about the address of the person in question.
Some community members took their actions a step further by sharing photos of people whom they claimed to have reported the man to immigration on Facebook.
However, supporters of these people have defended them and refuted the allegations of their involvement.
The news comes after Immigration Compliance officers located six unlawful migrants last year following an investigation into their failure to depart New Zealand in accordance with their visa requirements.
Steve Watson, General Manager Immigration Compliance and Investigations, said at the time that the legal obligation to leave New Zealand before a temporary visa expires is clearly communicated on visas.
“Temporary visa holders must ensure that their visa is current. People who overstay their visa are expected to leave New Zealand. Wherever possible, we contact people who overstay their visas through texting, email and – if they fail to depart – Compliance staff may undertake enquiries and if there are no special circumstances to consider, will locate and deport them.
“When someone is unlawfully in New Zealand, we know it is harder for them to legally engage in society and this means they can be vulnerable to exploitation. Employers are also committing an offence by employing unlawful migrants.”
