Australia Moves to Detain Visa Overstayers in Immigration Crackdown

Australia is preparing to detain or deport more than 77,000 foreign nationals who have overstayed their visas, as part of a broader crackdown on immigration violations, according to a report published by Al Jazeera on September 18, 2026.

The report said the figure represents the number of tourists and other visa holders currently in the country beyond the permitted length of their stay. It did not specify a timeline for the detentions or removals, nor did it detail the nationalities most affected.

Al Jazeera's report characterized the move as part of a wider effort by Australian authorities to enforce immigration rules more strictly, though the article did not elaborate on the specific policy changes, legislation, or government statements underpinning the crackdown.

Details on how the detentions will be carried out, the facilities to be used, or the legal process overstayers will face were not included in the available reporting. It also remains unclear whether the measures target a particular category of visa holders or apply broadly across all visa types.

Al Jazeera did not immediately provide additional comment from Australian immigration officials or advocacy groups regarding the scale or implementation of the crackdown.