Illegal Migration to Australia: Dreams, Reality, and Risks to Life
Australia is one of the most developed and prosperous countries in the world. Due to its strong economy, high standard of living, and social security, millions of people from developing and poorer countries seek ways—both legal and illegal—to migrate to Australia every year. However, due to the Strict requirements for obtaining a legal visa, most people fail to fulfill their dreams. As a result, many choose illegal pathways, which sometimes become extremely dangerous for their lives. In this article, we attempt to provide some basic information to assist Bangla-speaking readers on this issue.
Why do people want to migrate illegally to Australia?
Several key factors drive illegal migration:
Attraction of a better life: People from low-income countries aspire to change their fate in search of economic prosperity and higher wages.
Political instability and conflict: Many leave their countries to escape war, ethnic persecution, or political retaliation.
Misinformation and fraud by brokers: Human traffickers and agents often lure people by presenting exaggerated and false dreams about Australia.
Complexity of legal visas: Australia’s immigration laws are highly strict. Many people lack the required education or financial capacity, leading them to choose easier but illegal routes.
In the case of Bangladesh, the biggest reasons include high population density, lack of social security, undervaluation of labor, and most importantly, concern for children’s future safety. No parent wants their child to grow up in an unsafe environment. While the reasons behind this insecurity in Bangladesh can be discussed separately, it is important here to highlight how unsafe conditions can push people toward illegal migration.
According to analyses compiled from various reports:
- The number of unnatural deaths in Bangladesh is alarming.
- On average, more than 100 people die unnatural deaths every day (2024–25 data).
Breakdown of major causes:
Suicide:
- Around 56 people per day in 2023
- Average of 40 per day between 2020–2024
Road accidents:
- 9,111 deaths in 2025
- About 25 deaths per day
Murder:
- 3,432 cases in 2024
- About 11 per day (based on 2025 data for 9 months)
Combined, these three causes alone account for approximately 75–90 deaths daily.
Additionally, there are cases of custodial deaths and enforced disappearances. Between 2009 and 2024, around 1,900 families reported that their relatives were taken away by individuals claiming to be law enforcement, never to return. Human rights organizations have identified at least 1,200 such families.
Custodial deaths:
Reports indicate a rising trend:
- 2023–2024 (high risk period):
- 105 deaths in prison custody in 2023 (compared to 65 in 2022)
- At least 13 deaths in police custody and 3 in detective branch custody
- 2022:
- Over 44 deaths in custody reported
Actual numbers may be higher due to underreporting.
Population Density Perspective
If the entire world population were relocated to the United States, about 36% of the land would still remain empty. Even excluding Alaska, 22% would remain vacant. This comparison highlights the extreme population density in Bangladesh and the reality people live in.
This context helps explain why people risk everything to migrate illegally. It is not merely recklessness or ignorance, but often desperation.
How do people migrate illegally to Australia?
There are generally two main methods:
1. By sea (boat journey):
People attempt dangerous sea crossings from Indonesia or Malaysia in small, unsafe boats to reach northern Australia. Many are caught, and many lose their lives in boat accidents. In some cases, traffickers detain migrants in countries like Malaysia, Thailand, or Indonesia and extort money from their families. Victims are often sold between trafficking networks, and some are even killed.
2. Visa overstay:
Entering legally on tourist or student visas and then overstaying.
There are three types of individuals in this category:
- Those who intentionally provide false information
- Those whose intentions change after arrival
Staying after a tourist visa: Pros and Cons
Short-term advantages:
- Legal entry into the country
- Temporary survival through support from relatives or informal work
However, illegal status in a foreign country is neither safe nor honorable compared to living legally in one’s own country. Many cannot return home for family events, even in times of crisis or death. Emotional isolation becomes severe.
Long-term disadvantages:
- Illegal status: Becomes an “Unlawful Non-citizen” after visa expiry; risk of arrest and deportation anytime
- Work limitations: Low wages, exploitation, and lack of legal protection
- No healthcare or benefits: No access to Medicare or social services
- Mental stress: Constant fear of being caught
- 3-year ban: Re-entry ban after deportation or voluntary return
Sea migration: Reasons and Risks
This is considered one of the most dangerous journeys in the world.
Why choose this route?
Those without valid documents often believe reaching Australian waters will grant them asylum.
Risks:
- Loss of life: Thousands have died due to boat capsizing
- Abuse by traffickers: Overcrowded boats, lack of food and water
- Strict policies: Under “Operation Sovereign Borders,” Australia prevents boats from reaching the mainland
What happens upon arrival?
If someone survives and reaches Australia:
- Detention and identification
- Offshore processing: Sent to detention centers in Nauru or Papua New Guinea
- Asylum assessment: Can take years
- Deportation: If not eligible, forced return
- No permanent settlement: No pathway to residency
Choosing illegal migration to Australia means placing one’s life and future in extreme uncertainty. Although applying legally may be difficult and time-consuming, it remains the only safe, dignified, and sustainable path to building a secure life.
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