Ex-Immigration Boss colluded with US embassy, Wikileaks reveals

Back in February former Immigration Service Boss Mary Anne Thompson pleaded guilty to using her CV fraudulently. Cables released by Wikileaks have revealed that Thompson, who was also Deputy Secretary at the Department of Labour, did more than just lie about her qualifications, she colluded with the American embassy who wished to exert influence over New Zealand's government. A cable from the US embassy reads "in the past provided [she has] us with valuable insights about how best to sell U.S. policies within GNZ [government of New Zealand]. She is also generally sympathetic with USG [United States government] counter-terrorism policies in the region.” Thompson is described as an “invaluable behind-the-scenes Embassy contact.”

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Thompson's name appears in another cable discussing the settlement of Uighers formerly imprisoned in Guantanamo Bay, after receiving the request from the US embassy, she “said that she would recommend to the Prime Minister's Department and others that GNZ should keep an open

mind about the request” While Thompson echoed the official word given to the US by then Minister of Foreign Affairs Goff and Immigration Minister Swain, that New Zealand typically only takes refugees from the at the request of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees [UNHCR] Thompson said she would quietly advise staff working on refugee matters that a UNHCR request "may be coming." the cable notes “Given the sensitivity of the issue, she asked that we keep it confidential.” Other released cables have shown US attempts to change New Zealand's nuclear free policy and influence key figures in the media, as well as making public the fact that New Zealand and American intelligence agencies began collaboration in August last year.