Photo: RNZ / Todd Niall
An international student detained by Customs was told she had no human rights and was barred from being given legal advice, her lawyer claims.
Lawyer Frank Deliu said the teenager was stopped for carrying too many cigarettes when she arrived in New Zealand last week. She was fined and problems with her visa were discovered.
Deliu said the most disturbing thing was that when a legal representative turned up at Auckland Airport, a Customs official denied him access, saying she had no rights.
“I've been doing immigration law for many years, I've done hundreds and hundreds of cases, I've never actually had them bluntly say that a human being has no rights, so it's really quite outrageous.”
Frank Deliu said a High Court judge has halted the deportation for now, with a judicial review due to be heard next month.
Immigration New Zealand said it was unable to comment as the case is before the court.
A version of this story was first published on radionz.co.nz.
