Bikie gang members applying for Australian citizenship to avoid deportation

OUTLAW bikie gang members are rushing to file citizenship applications to avoid being deported.

OUTLAW bikie gang members are rushing to file citizenship applications to avoid being deported.

The dash to become Aussie follows a number of high-profile deportations involving senior gang members who were born overseas but have lived in Australia for decades without seeking citizenship.

There are 800 people linked to organised crime on the federal government’s National Criminal Threat Database.

Last year the database was cross-referenced with the Immigration Department to check the citizenship status of each person.

It found about half the people listed had not taken up citizenship, meaning they could be deported if they had served more than a year in jail or were the subject of criminal intelligence suggesting they were a threat to the community.

An official said the revelations had prompted some criminals to seek naturalisation.

“If you’ve been here for many years, it’s the obvious way around it,” the official said.

One case currently in the spotlight is Sam Ibrahim, a life member of the Nomads bikie gang who was born in Lebanon. He is in jail fighting charges relating to a gun-supply syndicate.

Sam Ibrahim is expected to appeal against a deportation order.

After being made aware he was in ­Australia on a residency visa, the Immigration Minister moved to have him deported.

This is despite him being married to an Australian woman and father to Australian children.

He has also lived in Australia since he was a boy, has never travelled and does not hold a passport.

Ibrahim’s barrister, Julieanne Levick, said he was ­unable to appeal until his criminal matters had been ­finalised.

However, there would be an appeal against the minister’s decision. Ms Levick said: “The decision is an absolute disgrace and arguably ­offends the Constitution.”

Other bikies targeted have included Rebels national president Alex Vella and Bandidos sergeant-at-arms Daniel Roach, who was born in the UK but has lived in Victoria since the age of 17.

Both men had their visas ­revoked on character grounds while holidaying overseas — Vella while visiting his birthplace in Malta in 2014, and Roach while on holiday in Thailand.

Vella, who has been an Australian resident for 47 years, ­remains stranded in Malta. He, too, has been contesting the minister’s decision and ­recently took his case to the High Court.

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said in June that 57 criminals had already been removed from Australia after having their visas cancelled.

Asked about the rise in citizenship applications, Mr Dutton said it was unlikely anyone attempting that route would be successful.