This statement provides an update on Operation Sovereign Borders (OSB) activities related to the on-water reception and processing of illegal maritime arrivals (IMAs).
The reporting period is from 1 March 2019 to 31 March 2019.
During this reporting period there were no IMAs transferred to Australian Immigration authorities.
No IMAs were transferred to a regional processing country.
Nine IMA detainees, who arrived in Australia before 1 January 2014, were voluntarily removed from Australia. Two IMA detainees were involuntarily removed from Australia to their country of origin, consistent with Australia's obligations.
For the month of March 2019, there were no IMAs voluntarily returned to their country of origin from a regional processing country.
As at 31 March 2019, there were no people in the Nauru RPC. The Manus RPC closed on
31 October 2017.
The processing of refugee claims are matters for the governments of PNG and Nauru.
