Watchdog holds fears for indefinite detainees In the event asylum seekers are given a negative ASIO assessment, they are not permitted to know the reasons for their negative assessments. Fears have been raised for the welfare of about a dozen asylum seekers who have been held in detention for more than two years, with no immediate hope of release. Commonwealth Ombudsman Colin Neave on Wednesday tabled a report to Parliament on 73 people who had been in immigration detention for more than two years. Some have been detained for more than three years. Mr Neave wrote that the fate of 11 asylum seekers given adverse ASIO security assessments were a particular concern. One - Mr X - had been detained for 3½ years when Mr Neave highlighted his case on February 5, 2013. "In interviews with ombudsman staff, Mr X stated that he would prefer to die than to continue to live 'like this'," Mr Neave wrote. He said he feels that he is in a 'dark torment' and does not know what is the next step or solution to his situation. He stated that he and others who had received adverse security clearances 'are not terrorists - just normal human beings', and that mental health support cannot provide a solution. Asylum seekers are subjected to ASIO clearance after their claims for refugee protection have been processed. But in the event they are given a negative ASIO assessment, they are not permitted to know the reasons for their negative assessments. In a statement tabled in Parliament on Wednesday, Immigration Minister Brendan O'Connor said it was government policy that people with adverse security assessments not reside in the community. He said the Department of Immigration was investigating whether the people concerned could be resettled in other countries. Last month, chief opposition Whip Warren Entsch said the Coalition would scrap reviews of negative ASIO assessments, introduced by Labor last October. The review process has begun and retired Federal Court judge Margaret Stone has given fresh hope to more than 50 people on indefinite detention, although ASIO retains the power to reject Ms Stone's findings. But, Mr Neave said, if nothing was done, an increasing number of people faced being locked up indefinitely.