Australia begins deporting 'non-citizens' to Nauru under multimillion-dollar resettlement plan

Australia Begins Deporting Non-Citizens to Nauru

The first individuals considered non-citizens by Australia have been deported to Nauru as part of a new multimillion-dollar resettlement deal between the two countries. This arrangement was formalized last week by Nauru's President David Adeang and Australia's Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke.

Details of the Resettlement Plan

The deal reportedly involves payments of $2.5 billion from Australia to Nauru over 30 years.
Approximately 350 people, referred to as the NZYQ cohort, are targeted for removal under this agreement.
Refugee advocates confirm at least three men have already been deported, with eight more currently detained for deportation.

Deportation Process

According to Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition, deportations begin after Nauru grants a visa to the individual. This prompts Australian authorities to cancel their visa and detain them, frequently in the early hours.

"As soon as Nauru issues the visa for the person, the visa is cancelled, and they're able to be re-detained. So people are being picked up at… three o'clock, four o'clock in the morning for the purposes of being re-detained. Some of them only with a week's notice of removal to Nauru."

Impact and Criticism

Refugee advocates highlight the sudden detentions and short notice as a significant hardship for those affected. The true costs and specific conditions of the agreement remain undisclosed to the public.

Author's summary: Australia has begun transferring hundreds of non-citizens to Nauru under a secretive, costly resettlement deal, with rapid detentions raising concerns among refugee advocates.

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RNZ — 2025-11-07