Pacific Island Nation Accepts US Migrants

TT

Published 21.15

 

The Pacific island nation of Palau has agreed to accept undocumented migrants from the US. Photo: Army Corps Of Engineers Via AP/TT

Palau in the Pacific will accept 75 migrants from the US. In return, the island nation will receive the equivalent of around one million kronor per migrant.

The small island nation, about 800 kilometers east of the Philippines, has signed an agreement with the US to accept around 75 undocumented migrants. For this, the US will pay 7.5 million dollars, around 75 million kronor, which will go towards improving the island's infrastructure and healthcare, among other things.

The migrants have not been charged with any crimes in the US and are expected to be able to fill Palau's needs for labor. But the island nation, which has about 20,000 residents spread across hundreds of islands, reserves the right to approve any migrant who arrives.

One of President Donald Trump's most prominent campaign promises during last year's election campaign was to carry out mass deportations of migrants who are in the United States illegally.

Since then, the United States has signed agreements with a number of countries to accept deported migrants, including Kosovo, Eswatini, Ghana, Rwanda and conflict-torn South Sudan. Many people have also been sent to countries in Central America.