Holding asylum-seekers in offshore camps, which have been strongly criticised by the United Nations and human rights groups, is part of a hardline immigration policy that has bipartisan political support in Australia. Australia agreed on the deal with Trump’s predecessor Barack Obama late in 2016, under which up to 1,250 refugees held in the Australian camps will be offered residency. The second of the offshore detention camps is on the tiny South Pacific island of Nauru. Most of those held in the camps travelled on boats from transit countries in Southeast Asia, many after paying people smugglers. Asylum-seekers intercepted at sea trying to reach Australia are sent to the offshore camps and told they will never be settled in Australia.

Source: bd News24 January 23, 2018 04:30 UTC