This statement provides an update on Operation Sovereign Borders (OSB) activities related to the on-water reception and processing of illegal maritime arrivals (IMAs).
The reporting period is from 1 January 2021 to 31 January 2021.
During this reporting period there were 18 IMAs transferred from a regional processing country to Australia for medical purposes or were an accompanying family member.
During this reporting period, OSB intercepted no illegal maritime ventures and returned no potential illegal immigrants.
No IMAs were transferred from Australia to a regional processing country.
Less than five IMA detainees, who arrived in Australia before 1 January 2014, were voluntarily removed from Australia. No IMA detainees were involuntarily removed from Australia to their country of origin, consistent with Australia’s obligations.
No IMAs voluntarily returned to their country of origin from a regional processing country.
As at 31 January 2021, no IMAs in Nauru or Papua New Guinea (PNG) are in detention; all persons reside in community accommodation, with no restrictions on their movement in the community.
The processing of refugee claims are matters for the governments of PNG and Nauru.
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