Detention kids back to school: [1 All-round Country Edition]
Stapleton, John. The Australian; Canberra, A.C.T. [Canberra, A.C.T] 22 July 2005: 3.
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Abstract
Ian Hwang, 11, and his sister Janie Hwang, 6, were released from Villawood detention centre late on Wednesday, along with their mother, Young Lee, who had been arrested for overstaying her visa.
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TWO Korean children yesterday made an exuberant return to their school in Sydney’s inner west where four months ago they were forcibly removed by immigration officials.
Ian Hwang, 11, and his sister Janie Hwang, 6, were released from Villawood detention centre late on Wednesday, along with their mother, Young Lee, who had been arrested for overstaying her visa.
Arriving at the school yesterday, Ian described himself as very happy to be back among his schoolmates.
“It was pretty bad,” he said of detention. “I saw some bad things, someone tried to commit suicide. It was a pretty bad experience. I never want to go back to a place like that again.”
Despite the fact Ms Lee overstayed her visa and had used a false passport while in Australia, the family’s lawyer, Michaela Byers, said they were considering legal action against the Government.
Ms Byers said the children were legally in Australia on bridging visas at the time they were detained.