Male and female security officer expected to be deported on Wednesday after being detained in cells since Sunday

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

The Nauruan government has detained two Wilson Security officers who work at the Australian-run centre, and are scheduled to be deported on Wednesday.

Guardian Australia understands that a male and female security officer had their visas revoked by Nauru and were detained in cells on Sunday.

It is understood that neither has been accused of any crime or wrongdoing. Their detention followed a decision by Wilson Security not to hire a local Nauruan as a security officer.

International Criminal Court told Australia's detention regime could be a crime against humanity Read more

The move has raised concerns among the Australian companies on the island that their detention was “political payback” for the decision.

A spokesman for the foreign affairs department said in a statement: “The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to two Australians detained in Nauru, in accordance with the consular services charter.

“The Australian government has no jurisdiction to interfere in the legal or immigration processes of other countries.

“Due to privacy obligations, we are unable to provide further information.”

The island nation is currently overwhelmed with dengue fever, with 750 confirmed cases of the infection, including more than 50 among asylum seekers and refugees held on the island by the Australian government.

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne viral disease that can become life-threatening in acute cases.

There are limited testing kits on the island and the Nauruan government has struggled to manage the surge in cases.

Crisis meetings have been held between Nauruan and Australian officials on the island, and World Health Organisation officials have also been providing assistance.

The two officers were also held in cells that do not have netting used to protect against mosquitos that carry the disease.

The two officers will be flown off island on Wednesday. Guardian Australia has contacted the government of Nauru and Wilson Security for comment.

The US refugee resettlement deal is proceeding on Nauru and Australia’s other offshore detention island, PNG’s Manus.

Officials from the US Department of Homeland Security’s citizenship and immigration service will be on Nauru from 20 March to 30 March conducting fingerprint collection for refugees willing to be resettled in America. The same team will then travel to Manus Island from 4 April to 8 April.

Dengue fever outbreak on Nauru threatens health system Read more

Currently, between 80% and 90% of asylum seekers on both Nauru and Manus are being formally recognised as refugees, the immigration department has said. Those determined to be refugees have a “well-founded fear of persecution” in their home countries. They cannot be returned there and are legally owed protection.



Australia’s offshore detention regime costs about $2m a day to run, according to figures provided to the Senate.



But the centres face looming closure. Ferrovial, the owner of Broadspectrum, the company contracted to run the centres, has told the government it will not run the centres beyond the expiration of its current contract on 17 October.

