At least 40 of the 44 boatpeople who have been declared security threats by Australian security officials are believed to have links to LTTE.

All 44 have been found to be legitimate refugees, meaning they cannot be returned to their homeland, the Australian reported.

The growing number of asylum-seekers in Australian detention centres who are both refugees and security threats represents a serious long-term challenge for the Australian government.

Under the Migration Act, people issued adverse security assessments are disqualified from holding an Australian visa.

But the UN Convention on Refugees, which Australia has signed, means it is illegal to return refugees to the country from which they have fled.

The result is indefinite immigration detention.