Up to 100 people released from immigration detention after Australian government loses court case

Up to 100 people held in immigration detention have been released over the Christmas period, a move welcomed by advocates calling on Labor to accelerate its commitment to free those who pose a low risk to the public.

Advocates believe that some releases may have been triggered by the federal government losing a full federal court case on 22 December, in which the court ruled that aggregate sentences should not trigger automatic visa cancellation.

William Levingston, a solicitor at Christopher Levingston & Associates, said his clients in detention estimated that 24 people were released on Tuesday from Villawood and 16 from Mita.

Guardian Australia understands the most recent releases were triggered by the department, not direct ministerial intervention.