Just a day after an inquiry into streamers Ishowspeed’s visit to New Zealand, Immigration NZ has denied entry to US political commentator Candace Owens.
Immigration New Zealand acting deputy chief operating officer Jock Gilray said Owens had applied for an Entertainers Work Visa, which has now been rejected.
“Under section 15(1)(f) of the Immigration Act, an individual may not be granted a visa to come to New Zealand if they have been excluded from another country,” Gilray said.
This comes after the controversial figure was denied entry into Australia in October.
Australian Immigration Minister Tony Burke said at the time Owens had the capacity to widely incite discord.
“Australia’s national interest is best served when Candace Owens is somewhere else.
This came after Owens publicly downplayed the impacts of the holocaust and made claims that Muslims were started through slavery.
Free Speech Union Chief Jonathan Ayling said they had written to the Immigration Minister and were ready to take legal action.
“We do not believe Immigration New Zealand is applying an accurate interpretation of ‘exclusion’.
“The de facto exclusion applies most frequently to individuals who are deported or removed from another country. It is not the same thing, to be refused entry as to be excluded, and Immigration New Zealand should know this.”
Photo Credit: 1News
