Refugees released from Aust detention

The Refugee Action Collective said the men were not given a reason for their release, and most of them received a six-month bridging visa with no access to welfare and little support.

"They have been released to a cheap motel, on a long weekend, with almost no support," the RAC's Chris Breen said.

"After eight years in detention, they have been traumatised, institutionalised, denied education and the ability to work and gain skills. 

"They should be granted permanent visas, compensated, and given full support, not dumped in the community to fend for themselves." 

AAP understands the bridging visa allows refugees to reside lawfully in the community while making arrangements to leave the country and does not provide a pathway to settlement in Australia.

There are still around 50 refugees detained nationally, with 18 men at Melbourne's Park Hotel and 10 men at the Broadmeadows detention centre.

"It is increasingly cruel, arbitrary and absurd to continue to detain the remaining medevac refugees," Mr Breen said.

"They must be immediately freed."

The Australian Border Force declined to confirm whether any refugees had been released.

"The department does not comment on individual cases," the ABF said.

"Individuals released from immigration detention are provided transitional support through the Status Resolution Support Services program including case worker support, accommodation and financial assistance.

"The Australian government's policies have not changed and illegal maritime arrivals will not be settled in Australia."

It comes after another Park Hotel detainee, Iranian refugee Mehdi Ali, was resettled in the United States earlier this month, after nine years in detention.

The Park Hotel came gained national attention in January when tennis champion Novak Djokovic was briefly detained there.

Djokovic was ultimately deported on the eve of the Australian Open after the Federal Court upheld the immigration minister's decision to cancel his visa.