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Australia begins deportations of illegal migrants to Nauru
Australia has started deporting illegal migrants to the island nation of Nauru under a bilateral agreement signed earlier this year, Interior Minister Tony Burke announced Tuesday. Up to 354 individuals residing illegally in Australia, many convicted of serious crimes including murder, could eventually be sent to the tiny Pacific state, barely larger than the Vatican or Monaco.
“Nauru confirmed last Friday that the first transfer has taken place,” Burke said, without providing further numbers.
The deportations are part of a €1.4 billion agreement, to be paid by Canberra over 30 years, allowing Nauru to host these individuals. Migrants had been held in Australia’s detention system for years after losing their visas for violent crimes or pending unresolved cases. Australia could not return them to their countries of origin, where they might face war or religious persecution.
A 2023 court ruling declared it illegal to detain them indefinitely when no destination was available. Faced with this decision, Australia turned to Nauru, which will provide long-term visas and allow migrants to integrate freely into its population of approximately 12,500 residents.
Australia had previously sent thousands of migrants attempting to reach its shores to processing and detention centers in Nauru, a policy later suspended after international criticism, deaths, suicide attempts, and complaints filed with the International Criminal Court (ICC).