Australia Begins Deporting 350 Foreign Criminals to Remote Pacific Island Nauru

Australia has begun deporting a group of around 350 foreign-born migrants, many convicted of serious crimes, to the small Pacific island nation of Nauru under a controversial and secretive deal. This cohort could not be resettled elsewhere due to risks such as war or persecution in their home countries, and a 2023 Australian High Court ruling deemed their indefinite detention unlawful. Australia will pay Nauru hundreds of millions of dollars to resettle these individuals, who will be granted long-term visas and allowed to integrate with the island's population of about 12,500. The policy has sparked political backlash and condemnation from human rights advocates, who highlight issues such as the inclusion of elderly and sick people and concerns about medical care on Nauru. Australia's offshore detention regime has faced international criticism for human rights violations, including detainee deaths and suicide attempts. Despite these concerns, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has defended the deal as a necessary solution for migrants who cannot be returned to their countries of origin.