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 February 2019 to 28 February 2019.
During this reporting period there were no IMAs transferred to Australian Immigration authorities.
No IMAs were transferred to a regional processing country.
Five IMA detainees, who arrived in Australia before 1 January 2014, were voluntarily removed from Australia. One IMA detainee was involuntarily removed from Australia to their country of origin, consistent with Australia’s obligations.
Between 1 February 2019 and 28 February 2019, zero IMAs voluntarily returned to their country of origin from a regional processing country.
As at 28 February 2019, there were less than five people in the Nauru RPC. The Manus RPC closed on 31 October 2017.
The processing of refugee claims are matters for the governments of PNG and Nauru.
