The newest batch of 50 will join the 233 already here. An Australian official who was originally involved with making the “dumb” deal with Barack Obama predicts the US will take all 1,250 and maybe more!
For new readers who have never heard of this incredibly stupid arrangement, see my entire archive of previous posts by clicking here.
From The Australian:
Former Australian Border Force commissioner Roman Quaedvlieg says he is confident the Trump administration will accept its upper limit of 1250 refugees under a deal with the federal government, and said the US might take even more people.
The government yesterday seized on reports a further 50 refugees in Manus Island and Nauru had been cleared for resettlement in the US to argue the government’s border protection policies were working.
Mr Quaedvlieg was removed from his job in March after an official investigation but previously worked on the deal originally sealed with the Obama administration.
It was the subject of a tense phone call between Malcolm Turnbull and US President Donald Trump.
“The US deal to settle refugees from Manus and Nauru was struck throughout the course of 2016 and was achieved through both formal and informal diplomatic channels,” Mr Quaedvlieg told The Australian.
“Many of us called in friendships and favours in relationships that we cultivated through the Five Eyes alliance.
(Click here to learn about Five Eyes which I had never heard of!)
“We were fortunate that President Trump honoured the deal that was struck with the Obama administration.”
Under the deal, the US agreed to accept as many as 1250 people as long as they passed “extreme vetting” procedures.
Mr Quaedvlieg, a former senior police officer, said he would not rule out the US accepting more than 1250 refugees.
[….]
Sky News reported 50 refugees had been cleared for resettlement in the US and would move to their new home within a fortnight. This would be in addition to the 233 people who had already moved to the US under the deal.
How ironic is this! The new New Zealand Prime Minister made a big show a few months back of offering to take some of the mostly Muslim men that Australia won’t take to its mainland, but not so fast!
Government papers obtained by the news outlet this month show Australia asked the New Zealand government to keep its offer on the table as a contingency plan in case the US deal fell through.
Interestingly, the government documents suggested there were concerns about detainees passing New Zealand’s own strict screening and security laws.
There is no sense directing you to the whole article (it is behind a pay wall), but take my word for it.
Donald Trump should have stuck with his original instincts and nixed the dumb deal in the first months of his presidency. It is not only dumb, but could set a dangerous precedent. This process is way outside of the norm for international refugee movement.
And, if just one of these men (who have been incarcerated for at least 4 years) goes wrong, commits violence of some sort, it will be on the President!
Contact the White House! and tell the President what you think about this “dumb” deal!