US Asks Pacific Island Nation Palau to Accept Deported Migrants

Kokcha News Agency: The administration of US President Donald Trump has reportedly asked Palau, a small Pacific island nation with a population of 18,000, to accept migrants from third countries who are to be deported from the US. Palau is currently reviewing a draft agreement that would allow the resettlement of these individuals on its territory.

Since taking office in January 2025, President Trump has maintained a strict immigration policy, including efforts to send migrants to countries where they are not citizens. This move follows similar proposals made to several African countries earlier this year.

According to The Guardian, the draft agreement under consideration by Palau involves the resettlement of “third-country nationals” who are seeking protection and are unwilling to return to their home countries. The draft does not specify how many people could be sent to Palau or what the island nation would receive in return.

The draft agreement also states that the US government cannot send unaccompanied minors to Palau under the terms of the deal.

In a letter obtained by The Guardian, Palau’s President Surangel Whipps Jr. indicated that the proposal is far from final and remains open to further discussion. The letter emphasized that Palau retains “full discretion” over whether to accept any individuals.

Fear as a Primary Motive
The US Supreme Court paved the way for the Trump administration’s policy of deporting migrants to countries where they are not citizens in a ruling issued in June.

Doris Meissner, former head of the US Citizenship and Immigration Services and now director of the US Immigration Policy Program at the Migration Policy Institute, explained that the Trump administration has made similar proposals to several countries.

Meissner stated, “The reason for these actions is primarily to instill fear among immigrant communities in the US that they could be sent to distant places where their families or connections do not exist.”

Palau’s Commitment to International Law
Unlike the US, Palau is a party to the United Nations Refugee Convention, which requires signatory states to protect individuals fleeing persecution and provides a framework for the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers.