Deep Dive: Two Australian states prepare for arrival of ISIS families

Australia, as a nation with a history of involvement in Middle Eastern conflicts including the fight against ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, a jihadist terrorist organization that declared a caliphate in 2014), now faces the repatriation of its citizens who joined the group. From the geopolitical lens, this reflects broader Western dilemmas in handling foreign fighters and their dependents post-caliphate collapse in 2019, balancing justice, security, and humanitarian obligations. Key actors include the Australian federal government, state authorities in the two unnamed states, and international partners like Syria and Turkey where many such families were detained. The international correspondent perspective underscores cross-border repatriation efforts, with over 60 countries facing similar issues involving thousands of ISIS-linked individuals. Australia's decision implicates regional dynamics in the Middle East, where camps like Al-Hol in Syria hold these families, and affects migration patterns as returnees reintegrate. Culturally, Australia's multicultural society, shaped by post-WWII immigration and recent counter-terrorism laws, must navigate community tensions between deradicalization and public safety fears. Regionally, the two states—likely New South Wales and Victoria given population centers and past terror plots—exemplify federal-state coordination in security matters. Strategic interests involve preventing radicalization recidivism while upholding rule of law, with implications for Indo-Pacific alliances as Australia counters extremism amid China tensions. Outlook suggests heightened surveillance, community programs, and potential legal trials, influencing global norms on terrorist diaspora.