The Northern Ireland Law Centre has released a report condemning the British government for keeping asylum-seekers in jails in the North alongside convicted offenders.
The report, entitled Sanctuary in a Cell, found 75 people were detained under immigration laws in Northern Ireland's prisons between January 1999 and June 2000.
A law centre barrister, Ms Vicky Tennant, said the practice was in breach of international human rights laws and it was also contrary to the principles of the Belfast Agreement.