December 2024:
Immigration detention is an important tool of immigration control in Taiwan, where detainee numbers have steadily risen in recent years. Although conditions in Taiwan’s detention centres have frequently been criticised, they have received little international scrutiny because of China’s opposition to Taiwan’s UN membership. Taiwan also lacks an asylum system, though the need to establish asylum procedures has grown increasingly urgent as the numbers of Hong Kong residents seeking protection have grown.
KEY FINDINGS:
- While there have been fluctuations in detention and deportation numbers over the past decade, since 2015 the number of people detained and deported has steadily increased.
- Immigration authorities have reported increases in visa “overstayers” since 2019, rising from 50,702 in 2019 to more than 90,000 as of October 2024.
- Taiwan operates four detention centres Taipei Detention Centre, Yilan Detention Centre, Nantou Detention Centre, and Kaohsiung Detention Centre.
- NGOs have criticised detention centres for poor conditions, and challenged the fact that detainees are required to pay for their own food and medical care.
- Legislative amendments in 2015 prohibited pregnant women and children under the age of 12 from being detained.
- Taiwan employs euphemisms for designating its detention centres, referring to them as “shelters.”
- Taiwan has long aspired to be a part of the UN system. Although it has been prevented from becoming a member of the UN, it has included key provisions from human rights law in its legislation.
- There is no refugee law; asylum is granted on a case-by-case basis.
