The Immigration Minister has confirmed that nineteen refugees from the Manus Regional Resettlement arrangement have departed Port Moresby for the United States of America.
The 19 refugees left on February 13. They were the third group who were successful in their interview and the screening process carried out by the United States Department of Homeland Security.
Minister for Immigration and Border Security, Petrus Thomas, said: “We are pleased to see significant progress in the US resettlement deal and thank the United States Government for supporting PNG’s regional effort with Australia to resettle genuine refugees.”
The 19 refugees who left last Tuesday bring to total 84 who departed to the US so far. The first group of 25 men left in September 2017 followed by another 40 early in January.
The Immigration Minister said more positive determinations under the resettlement deal are expected in the near future for some of the remaining refugees.
Meanwhile, the Immigration and Citizenship Authority has made efforts to return all non-compliant refugees and non-refugees, who have completed their medical treatment and have no further reason to remain in Port Moresby, back to Manus.