Australia: U.S. Taking 54 Refugees From Offshore Camps

A group of 54 refugees from Australia’s offshore detention centers will depart for the United States “in the coming weeks,” Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced Wednesday in a video on social media. Many of the refugees have been waiting for years for evaluations on their resettlement claims—and in harsh conditions that have been condemned by human-rights groups. Turnbull thanked President Trump for honoring the Obama-era deal. “Around 50 refugees from [Papua New Guinea] and Nauru will be accepted in this first group, and they’ll be notified in coming days,” Turnbull said. “Vetting and processing by the United States will continue, and further decisions by U.S. authorities in respect of others are expected in due course.” In his early days in the White House, Trump notoriously fought with Turnbull over the decision in a phone call, the transcript of which was later leaked.