18 refugees leave for US

Eighteen refugees departed Port Moresby yesterday for the United States, Immigration and Border Security Minister Petrus Thomas said.
“The 18 refugees have gone through an independent screening process carried out by the US Department of Homeland Security and were successful,” Thomas said.
“We wish them well as they rebuild their lives in the United States.”
Thomas said yesterday that the departure of those 18 refugees brought to 218 the number of refugees who had moved to the US since the first batch left on Sept 2017.
“The Papua New Guinea government is pleased to see a significant progress in the US resettlement deal,” he said. “I commend the efforts made by US Department of Homeland Security in supporting Papua New Guinea and Australia in resettling refugees who were processed under the RRA (regional resettlement arrangement) between the countries.”
Thomas said the number of refugees and non-refugees under RRA was progressively dropping with 525 remaining in Papua New Guinea. He said while some non-refugees had voluntarily returned to their home country, more were expected to be resettled in the US this year. “Those that are found not to be owed protection and are not refugees are urged to return home voluntarily and move on with their lives,” Thomas said.