MELBOURNE, Feb 18, 2026 – The Australian government has taken decisive legal action to prevent the return of a citizen from a Syrian detention camp, even as dozens of others remain trapped following a failed transit attempt through Damascus.
The Official Ban: A Legal First for 2026
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed on Wednesday that a Temporary Exclusion Order (TEO) has been issued against one individual in a group of 34 Australians. This order legally bars the person from entering Australia for up to two years.
Security Advice: The ban was issued following specific assessments by national security agencies.
The "Risk Threshold": While one adult met the legal threshold for the ban, the other 33 individuals—mostly children—were not assessed as posing a sufficient risk to warrant a TEO.
Chaos in Damascus: Why the Return Failed
The group, consisting of 11 families (11 women and 23 children), had briefly departed the Kurdish-run Al-Roj camp on Monday. Escorted by local forces, they planned to reach the Syrian capital, Damascus, to catch commercial flights home.
"The convoy was forced to turn back just before reaching the capital," a camp official reported, citing "procedural and coordination issues" with the Syrian central authorities.
Albanese’s "Make Your Bed" Stance
Despite the group reportedly holding valid Australian passports, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reiterated that the government will provide zero assistance for their return.
The Ideology: The PM stated those who traveled to Syria chose to align with a "brutal, reactionary ideology" designed to destroy the Australian way of life.
The Legal Warning: Albanese warned that any citizen returning independently would face the "full force of the law" if they are found to have breached counter-terrorism legislation, such as the "Declared Area" laws.
Why They Went: A Decade of Consequences
The women in the group are largely the wives and widows of IS fighters who traveled to the region between 2014 and 2017.
Recruitment: Many were recruited through extremist networks or followed husbands into the conflict zone.
The Children: 23 children are among those now stranded. While the government acknowledges they are "innocent victims" of their parents' choices, it maintains that national security remains the priority.
Quick Facts: The Legal Landscape
| Regulation | Impact |
| TEO (Exclusion Order) | Can block entry for 2 years. |
| Declared Area Offence | Up to 10 years in prison for being in Raqqa/Mosul (2014-17). |
| Consular Assistance | Currently zero for IS-linked citizens in Syria. |
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