TEN immigrants working illegally in Orange are in Villawood Detention Centre after a swoop on 12 Orange businesses and residences by Department of Immigration officials last week.
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The raids, which took place in Orange from February 24 to 26 were part of a Central West operation, which included Orange, Mudgee, Cowra Lithgow and Bathurst.
A total of 22 people were detained.
An immigration department spokesperson said almost half were found working on farms and in restaurants, take-away shops and other small businesses in Orange.
“In the majority of cases during this round of compliance visits across the Central West, the Department was acting on community information,” the spokesperson said.
The group comprised 14 men and eight women from the People’s Republic of China, Malaysia, Thailand, Nepal and Indonesia.
The spokesperson said those detained were found to be non complaint as their visas had expired, they had exceeded student visa work hours or had worked while on a tourist visa.
They are now awaiting deportation.
Employers convicted under Commonwealth legislation for employing illegal workers face fines of up to $20,400 and two years’ imprisonment while companies face fines of up to $102,000 per illegal worker.
janice.harris@fairfaxmedia.com.au
