<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The first member of the NZYQ group has been sent to Nauru under the federal government's controversial plan to deport hundreds of people to the small Pacific nation.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke signed a $408 million deal to offload the group of about 350 foreign-born criminals who were released from indefinite detention after a landmark court ruling to Nauru earlier this year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Nauru President David Adeang told his parliament on Friday that the first person had arrived under the resettlement agreement.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/lifeline-13yarn-indigenous-crisis-support-hotline-records-surge-in-calls-after-march-for-australia-protests/cc8b2107-1174-4a74-96b7-07fe3a6cf589" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Indigenous crisis hotline records surge after March for Australia protests</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Burke confirmed that the first member of the group was deported to Nauru on Friday.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Nauru confirmed last Friday that the first transfer had occurred," he said in a brief two-line statement.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"When someone's visa is cancelled, they should leave."</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/australia-quietly-transfers-first-nzyq-member-to-nauru-under-controversial-408-million-deal/fc084c06-2b21-4471-8129-d045bc27f04c" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The NZYQ cohort refers to the group of foreign-born criminals, including some murderers and paedophiles, who were detained until the High Court ruled that the indefinite detention of non-citizens was unconstitutional unless there was a plan to remove them from the country in November 2023.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They were released on bridging visas until the federal government rushed through laws with support from the opposition to manage their release through curfews and monitoring, with many having their visas cancelled on character grounds and being redetained.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The government last year also boosted its power to deport members of the group to third countries under new migration laws. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Under the controversial resettlement deal with Nauru, the nation will provide long-term residence to those who have no legal right to stay in Australia. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australia will pay Nauru an additional $70 million each year to cover the costs of the program. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/lizard-island-woman-found-dead-on-great-barrier-reef-island-after-failing-to-board-cruise-ship/e9df8653-38f0-43ea-bb37-3c6bfe1a8c66" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Woman found dead on Queensland island after failing to board cruise ship</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The deal was officially activated upon the first detainee's transfer on Friday. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The government anticipates this arrangement with Nauru may be challenged in the Australian courts. We are confident in the laws we put in place last year to protect community safety," Burke said in a statement in February.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The transfers are separate from Australia's ongoing offshore processing system in Nauru.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Human rights lawyers, activists and the Greens have strongly opposed Australia's deportation plan for fear that it may breach international human rights obligations. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"No one should be punished because of where they were born. Everyone should be equal under the law no matter where they're born," Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said last month.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The United Nations Human Rights Committee in January ruled that Australia has responsibility for the people it transfers to Nauru or elsewhere under offshore processing or transfer agreements, as well as finding solutions for their situation. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"A State party cannot escape its human rights responsibility when outsourcing asylum processing to another State," Committee member Mahjoub El Haiba said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Where a State exercises effective control over an area, its obligations under international law remain firmly in place and cannot be transferred."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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