Protesters this morning formed a blockade in front of the Villawood Immigration Detention Centre in Sydney to stop the transfer of asylum seekers to a remote centre in Western Australia.

A spokesman for the NSW Police told SBS that eight people were arrested and taken to Bankstown Police station a short time ago.

No charges have yet been laid.

About 30 protesters started a picket line from about 4.30am (AEDT) on Thursday blocking the gates at the centre where some detainees are set to be relocated to Curtin Immigration Detention Centre.

An immigration department letter was sent to 83 Villawood detainees on Monday saying they will be relocated to Curtin while the Sydney facility is refurbished.

Speaking from outside Villawood, Chlo Schofield, organiser of refugee-ally group Students Thinking Outside Borders, told SBS the group was blockading the transfer because they believed it was unjust.

"The people that are being sent to Curtin are very much a part of the Sydney community. There are people who have partners, husbands and wives, close friends and of course their legal representatives here."

"And it comes just a day before a number of them are having their legal proceedings heard before the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, and they're being sent a very, very long way from their solicitor."

The protest group has staged blockades at both the front and rear entrances of the centre.

After buses arrived to transfer the detainees, three police cars arrived and issued the group with a directive to move along.

Six protestors have been arrested pic.twitter.com/cE67md7ieC — Lee Rhiannon (@leerhiannon) April 3, 2014

We are still in a standoff at Villawood, and have been for over 7 hours pic.twitter.com/dQlxelNpcH (pic via @kateausburn) — Lee Rhiannon (@leerhiannon) April 3, 2014

The bus is being blocked. pic.twitter.com/a9cwvIWJyC — Lee Rhiannon (@leerhiannon) April 2, 2014

Police and security outside Villawood, the coaches are now inside the immigration detention centre compound. pic.twitter.com/QlwCKxfm3w — Kate (@kateausburn) April 2, 2014

Ms Schofield told SBS the group intended to block the exit when the buses attempted to leave and she expected arrests would be made.

The group of asylum seekers, who are taking legal action against the federal government over the alleged leaking of personal details are due to have their case mentioned in court on Friday.

Of 16 detainees involved in Friday's legal matter, three will be moved on Thursday.

Michaela Byers, the lawyer for the 16 detainees involved in the legal action, had speculated the proposed move was designed to make the detainees lose hope and return to their homelands voluntarily.