The tiny Pacific nation of Palau — a former filming location for “Survivor” — has agreed to take up to 75 third-country deportees from the United States who don’t have a criminal record — in exchange for a $7.5 million grant to support the roughly 18,000-person island chain.
The $100,000 per-deportee fee, announced on Christmas Eve by Palau’s President Surangel Whipps Jr. and the US embassy in Koror, introduces one of the most favorable venues yet for deportees if their recalcitrant homelands — such as China, Cuba, Russia or Iran — won’t take them.
“Palau and the United States signed a Memorandum of Understanding allowing up to 75 third country nationals, who have never been charged with a crime, to live and work in Palau, helping address local labor shortages in needed occupations,” the country’s president said in a statement.
“In connection with this arrangement, the United States granted $7.5 million to help Palau meet related public service and infrastructure needs, while both countries continue close cooperation on immigration and security matters.”
The US embassy said, “The United States deeply appreciates Palau’s cooperation in enforcing U.S. immigration laws, which remains a top priority for the Trump Administration.”
In addition to the new $7.5 million grant, the Trump administration agreed to provide $6 million “to prevent collapse of [Palau’s] civil service pension plan system” and $2 million for “new law enforcement initiatives.” --->READ MORE HERE
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The small island nation supported the United States in the 2003 invasion of Iraq and is heavily reliant on the US for financial support
A small archipelago six times smaller than Rhode Island has agreed to take “third country nationals” from the United States.Palau, located in the western Pacific Ocean, inked the deal with the Trump administration in exchange for $75 million in foreign aid after five months of negotiations.
Migrants who have never been charged with a crime will be allowed to live and work in the 180-square-mile country, which is home to fewer than 18,000 people.
The U.S. Embassy in Koror, the former capital of Palau, confirmed the details on social media after a ceremony to sign the agreement was held on Christmas Eve.
“The United States deeply appreciates Palau’s cooperation in enforcing U.S. immigration laws, which remains a top priority for the Trump Administration,” a spokesperson for the embassy wrote. “In this regard, the United States granted $7.5 million to address the needs of relevant Palau public services.”
According to the statement, the funds will be allocated to disaster preparedness, law enforcement, and financial stability.
The United States has been pushing for the agreement for months, as the Trump administration continues its goal to resettle migrants in countries they are not from.
Lawmakers issued the demand as early as July, but did not specify how many migrants Palau, a country that the United States provides with significant aid, would have to accept. That number has now been confirmed to be 75.
Both Palau and the United States have a long history together, with the island nation being given full independence from the U.S. in 1994 after five decades of American administration. Just a decade later, Palau became one of the few nations to actively support the U.S. during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. --->READ MORE HERE
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