Australian-US refugee swap looms
AUSTRALIA: Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said yesterday the first group of about 50 men and woman held in two controversial detention centres for asylumseekers on remote Pacific islands will be resettled in the United States within weeks.
Turnbull’s comments mark the first official timetable for when the US would begin resettling up to 1250 people held in Australian-run centres on Nauru and Papua New Guinea’s Manus Island as part of a refugee swap deal struck by former US President Barack Obama late last year.
Australia will begin resettling several dozen Central American refugees within weeks as part of a deal that US President Donald Trump has described as ‘‘dumb’’ but has nevertheless said Washington would honour.
‘‘There will be about 25 from both Manus and Nauru going to the United States and I just want to thank again President Trump for continuing with that arrangement,’’ Turnbull said.
Three sources familiar with the process said about 25 men from countries such as Bangladesh, Iran, and Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar held on Manus would be the first to be informed yesterday. A similar number on Nauru would be told today.
While Trump has said he would honour the agreement, concerns remain about how many asylumseekers will be resettled from the Australian-run centres.
Nearly 2000 men, women and children are held on Manus and Nauru, the majority of whom have been awarded refugee status by the two tiny Pacific countries.
Despite their refugee status, many have been held for four years in conditions widely criticised by the United Nations and human rights groups.
Australia is under increased pressure to resettle asylumseekers from Manus because the centre there is due to close on October 31.
Australia would need to make alternative arrangements should the bulk of the 800 men still be there by that deadline.
Under Canberra’s hardline immigration policy, asylumseekers intercepted at sea trying to reach Australia are sent for processing at the Manus and Nauru camps.
They are told they will never be settled in Australia.
Australia said last week about 200 men who have had their refugee applications denied and have therefore been ruled ineligible for resettlement in the US, and who are from countries such as Iran that do not allow forced deportations, will be transferred to a new detention facility on PNG after October 31.