This statement provides an update on Operation Sovereign Borders (OSB) activities related to the reception and processing of unauthorised maritime arrivals (UMAs)*.
The reporting period is from 01 August 2022 to 31 August 2022.
During this reporting period:
- Australian authorities worked with the government of Sri Lanka to safely return 46 people who were detected and intercepted attempting to reach Australia on a maritime people smuggling venture, consistent with Australia’s protection obligations;
- No UMAs were transferred from Australia to a regional processing country, either as new arrivals or returning after temporary purpose in Australia;
- No UMAs voluntarily returned to their country of origin from a regional processing country;
- No UMAs transferred from a regional processing country to Australia for medical purposes or were an accompanying family member;
- No UMAs were removed voluntarily to their country of origin from Australia and no UMAs were involuntarily removed from Australia to their country of origin;
- 17 UMAs were resettled in a third country (all from the cohort temporarily in Australia).
UMAs under regional processing arrangements in Nauru are not in detention; all persons reside in community accommodation, with no restrictions on their movement. The processing of UMA protection claims is a matter for the Government of Nauru.
*These statistics reference UMAs who arrived on or after 19 July 2013.
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