Immigration Minister Peter Dutton's crackdown on "fake refugees" prompted almost 7500 asylum seekers to lodge their claims for protection, leaving just 71 who now face deportation.

In May, Mr Dutton announced an October 1 deadline for about 7500 people currently in Australia, who arrived on boats before 2013, to make a claim for protection or leave the country.

He dubbed them "fake refugees" who had refused to answer questions or formally submit their claims, accusing them of gaming the system and taking advantage of Australia's generosity.

The crackdown met with an outcry of protest from refugee advocates, who blamed complex paperwork and lengthy queues for legal assistance for the delay in lodging claims.