By Helen Davidson and Ben Doherty
A group of refugees (click here) detained in Manus Island and Nauru will soon be told they have been accepted for resettlement in the US, the Australian government has confirmed.
The cohort of about 50 people is the first to be accepted by the US government under a deal struck between the former president, Barack Obama, and Australia to take up to 1,250 people.
“Representatives from the United States Resettlement Support Centre have started to provide some refugees with a decision relating to their US refugee admissions program application,” read a sign at the immigration detention centre, which asked people to be patient.
“Every case is different and moves through the required steps of the process at different speeds. This is only the first group of decisions and only some who have expressed an interest in US resettlement will receive a decision at this time.”
A number of detainees have received appointment slips with the USRSC for Wednesday and Thursday. It is not yet clear whether the appointments are all to tell people they have been successful, but prime minister Malcolm Turnbull said at least 50 people would be going to the US.
Turnbull, said about 25 people from Nauru and 25 from Manus would be informed of their upcoming resettlement in the US soon....
...The deal with the US sought to end the indefinite situation for the hundreds of people sent to the offshore immigration detention centres after they attempted to seek asylum in Australia by boat.
Many refugees have spent years in the Australian-run centres, where they have been exposed to violence, death and high rates of mental illness and despair....
From Amnesty International:
September 19, 2017
...The New York Times today reported on a study (click here) – which the White House sought to block – showing that refugees contribute more to the U.S. economy than they cost. Despite this, Trump is still expected to announce his decision to reduce U.S. refugee admissions before the end of the month. Amnesty International is calling for the U.S. to accept at least 75,000 refugees in 2018.
“President Trump’s callous approach to refugees will cost people their lives,” said Naureen Shah, Amnesty International USA senior director of campaigns. “Refugees are ordinary people who have been forced to run for their lives. By turning its back on some of the world’s most vulnerable people, the U.S. is abandoning its rich tradition of welcoming people seeking safety. Not only that, with reports today that the White House is ignoring refugees’ positive contributions to the U.S. economy, it’s clear that the limits Trump is trying to set on resettlement are about politics and bigotry.”...
From Amnesty International:
September 19, 2017
...The New York Times today reported on a study (click here) – which the White House sought to block – showing that refugees contribute more to the U.S. economy than they cost. Despite this, Trump is still expected to announce his decision to reduce U.S. refugee admissions before the end of the month. Amnesty International is calling for the U.S. to accept at least 75,000 refugees in 2018.
“President Trump’s callous approach to refugees will cost people their lives,” said Naureen Shah, Amnesty International USA senior director of campaigns. “Refugees are ordinary people who have been forced to run for their lives. By turning its back on some of the world’s most vulnerable people, the U.S. is abandoning its rich tradition of welcoming people seeking safety. Not only that, with reports today that the White House is ignoring refugees’ positive contributions to the U.S. economy, it’s clear that the limits Trump is trying to set on resettlement are about politics and bigotry.”...
