With more and more number of boat people coming in Australia every passing moment, Christmas Island is gradually becoming a de facto detention centre for all these boat people landing via sea route.

Statistics say that the current figures of boat people on the mainland is now exceeding the quantity of those on the Indian Ocean Island excised in the year 2002 for the motto of processing people who are seeking asylum status.

In accordance with the statistics from the Immigration department, three thousand four hundred and sixty nine people are presently living in detention centre of the mainland in Australia. On the other hand, two thousand eight hundred and eleven asylum seekers are present on the Christmas Island.

Also, the overcrowding aspect on Christmas Island led to the transfer of plenty of asylum seekers from the Christmas Island to the mainland, hence leading to an increase in the number for the asylum seekers in the mainland. Reports say that initially people were also shifted to various detention centers located at Villawood and other places in Sydney as well as Durban.

At present, various facilities as well as detention centers have been incorporated in every state of mainland, hence making it easier for the immigration authorities to manage plenty of boatpeople coming in every year.

A majority of these steps are taken to cater to the vast number of immigrants (asylum seekers) coming in Christmas Island.