• Australia bans an IS-linked citizen from returning home for two years.
• The ban affects one of 34 Australians trying to return from Syria.
• Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasizes the national security risks.
• The government refuses to assist in the repatriation of families tied to IS.
• Children of detainees are particularly vulnerable in the camps.

Australia's government has barred a citizen with alleged links to the Islamic State (IS) group from returning from Syria for up to two years, a decision stemming from a failed repatriation attempt for a group of 34 Australians. The detained Australians were attempting to fly home after being released from a Syrian camp when they were turned back by local authorities due to unspecified procedural issues. According to BBC, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed that a temporary exclusion order was issued for the woman, who was not identified, while the other 33 Australians did not meet the legal criteria for a ban.

This latest incident has reignited discussions on Australia's approach to repatriating its nationals linked to IS, particularly concerning the wellbeing of children among this group. The Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, stated that these individuals chose to align with a "brutal, reactionary ideology" and thus, the government would not facilitate their return, reiterating the need for national security. He remarked, "You make your bed, you lie in it," highlighting the government's stance on those who left for conflict zones, according to South China Morning Post and Los Angeles Times.

The situation in the Roj detention camp, where the women and children are located, remains tenuous, with calls from camp officials for countries to repatriate their nationals. The camp's director expressed the urgent need for nations to assume responsibility for individuals held there, noting the dangers facing children who grow up in environments filled with extremist ideologies. Testimonies reveal frustrations among detainees who believed they would return to Australia, especially after acquiring temporary passports for that purpose, according to NPR and South China Morning Post.

Legal experts have voiced concerns over the government's obligations concerning the rights of citizens to return, pointing out contradictions in handling the group. As it stands, Burke noted that security agencies did not recommend exclusion orders for the remaining Australians, underlining the complexity of the situation as the Australian government balances legal obligations with national security concerns. The ongoing developments reflect a challenge faced by several nations dealing with citizens who have connections to IS in Syria, with the Australian government having previously repatriated individuals only under stringent conditions, according to BBC and Los Angeles Times.