Australia Begins Deporting Non-Citizens to Nauru
The first group of individuals classified as non-citizens by Australia have been deported to Nauru under a new multimillion-dollar resettlement agreement between the two countries. This agreement, signed last week by Nauru's President David Adeang and Australia's Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, targets hundreds of people.
Details of the Resettlement Deal
The memorandum of understanding, signed in August, reportedly involves $2.5 billion in payments from Australia to Nauru over 30 years. The agreement focuses on approximately 350 people known as the NZYQ cohort who are subject to deportation.
Refugee Advocates' Reports
Refugee advocates have confirmed that at least three men have already been deported, with eight more currently detained and awaiting deportation under this arrangement.
Process of Removal
According to Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition, deportations begin once Nauru issues a visa to an individual. Following this, Australian authorities cancel the person's visa, detain them—often in the early morning hours—and prepare for removal.
"As soon as Nauru issues the visa for the person, the visa is cancelled, and they're able to be re-detained," Rintoul explained. "People are being picked up at three o'clock, four o'clock in the morning for the purposes of being re-detained. Some of them only with a week's notice of removal to Nauru."
Impact and Concerns
The secrecy surrounding the full terms of the deal and the sudden nature of the deportations have raised concerns among refugee advocates and human rights groups about the treatment and rights of those affected.
Author's summary
Australia has initiated deportations of non-citizens to Nauru under a secretive, costly agreement, prompting concerns over the abrupt detentions and long-term impacts on those involved.