US hits refugee intake cap as Manus Island, Nauru refugees assessed

Refugees in detention centres on Manus Island and Nauru could be delayed entry to the United States after the country hit its annual refugee intake cap yesterday.

The US is assessing many of the hundreds of refugees in those centres for resettlement as part of a deal struck last year with the Australian Government.

US President Donald Trump reduced America’s annual refugee intake from 110,000 to 50,000 as part of his travel ban earlier this year.

The US State Department has said that cap was reached yesterday.

The new intake year begins on October 1.

The fate of Manus refugees

The Australian Government is unlikely to do anything about the refugees on Manus Island who won’t be resettled in the US.

Exemptions could be made for those who have a “credible claim to a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States”, following a decision from the US Supreme Court last month that revived elements of Mr Trump’s travel ban while it considers the legality of the order.

Source: US hits refugee intake cap as Manus Island, Nauru refugees assessed – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)