Officials inside the Manus Island refugee camp in Papua New Guinea. Photo: Reuters

Officials at an Australian immigration centre in Papua New Guinea are increasing pressure on asylum seekers to return to their home countries voluntarily, including offering large sums of money, amid fears a deal for the United States to take refugees has fallen through. They told me and others that if you go back voluntarily you will get money about US$20,000, if you guys go in group you will get more money About a dozen Bangladeshi and Nepalese asylum seekers on Manus Island told Reuters they are being repeatedly called to meet with Australian officials and pressured to take amounts of up to US$25,000 to return to those countries, or face deportation.