Nation six instances smaller than Rhode Island agrees to absorb migrants from US | EUROtoday

A small archipelago six instances smaller than Rhode Island has agreed to take “third country nationals” from the United States.

Palau, situated within the western Pacific Ocean, inked the take care of the Trump administration in trade for $75 million in international support after 5 months of negotiations.

Migrants who’ve by no means been charged with a criminal offense might be allowed to dwell and work within the 180-square-mile nation, which is dwelling to fewer than 18,000 individuals.

The U.S. Embassy in Koror, the previous capital of Palau, confirmed the main points on social media after a ceremony to signal the settlement 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.”

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According to the assertion, the funds might be allotted to catastrophe preparedness, legislation enforcement, and monetary stability.

The United States has been pushing for the settlement for months, because the Trump administration continues its aim to resettle migrants in nations they aren’t from.

Lawmakers issued the demand as early as July, however didn’t specify what number of migrants Palau, a rustic that the United States supplies with vital support, must settle for. That quantity has now been confirmed to be 75.

Both Palau and the United States have a protracted historical past collectively, with the island nation being given full independence from the U.S. in 1994 after 5 a long time of American administration. Just a decade later, Palau grew to become one of many few nations to actively help the U.S. throughout the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Although the archipelago has no military of its personal, Palauans are eligible to serve within the U.S. army. They have been deployed twice to Iraq throughout the struggle, together with residents of the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Samoa, Hawaii, and Guam.

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Palau grew to become totally unbiased in 1994 however stays closely depending on the United States for monetary support and protection help, in trade for particular U.S. entry rights. The U.S. is given strategic use of Palau’s lands and waters as a part of its diplomatic agreements.

The push to deport migrants heading to the U.S. to an archipelago that’s hundreds of miles away comes because the Trump administration hardens its crackdown on immigration.

Over the festive season, ICE launched an AI-generated video of Santa Claus rounding up undocumented immigrants whereas carrying a bulletproof vest and brandishing weapons.

Later within the video, Santa might be seen escorting immigrants onto a airplane for deportation after processing them at a detention facility.

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A report has indicated that the Trump administration is planning to amass a minimum of seven industrial-scale warehouses to make use of as detention services for as much as 80,000 migrants.

The Trump administration is dealing with a rising downside with the sheer quantity of undocumented migrants being held at detention services, with a Trace report suggesting that 67,000 individuals have been held at ICE facilities in November.

The warehouse proposal, reported by the Washington Postsaid that every website would maintain 5,000 to 10,000 immigrants and would function as a part of a “feeder” system. That means detainees will go to processing facilities earlier than arriving at warehouses, to provide ICE brokers time to deport migrants at detention facilities.