Bogus stories continue to circulate about changes to US immigration policy affecting Pacific Islanders.
And now unsubstantiated reports about mass arrests of Tongans in the US are also circulating.
The U.S. Embassy in Fiji said it was aware of the websites alleging that the United States had changed travel regulations for Fijians and Tongans.
However, the embassy told Kaniva News the information was false.
The claims about changes to immigration policy were picked up and circulated widely on the internet.
The reports were unsourced and gave no contact details.
Stories about mass arrests of Tongan migrants in the US and possible deportations have also been circulating.
Like the other stories, they are unsourced and in some cases the websites pretend to be associated with the BBC.
One site claimed 831 Tongans had been deported in last week’s raids on illegal migrants in the US.
However, this number is higher than the total number of 680 arrests reported by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.
Kaniva News is waiting for confirmation from ICE of whether any Tongans were arrested.
In the 2016 fiscal year a total of 16 Tongans were deported from the US by immigration authorities
The main points
- Bogus stories continue to circulate about changes to US immigration policy affecting Pacific Islanders.
- And now unsubstantiated reports about deportations of Tongans from the US are also circulating.
- The US embassy in Fiji has confirmed that the reports are false.
- There have now been unverified claims that hundreds of Tongans were arrested in Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency raids.
For more information
US embassy denies Tongan nationals allowed visa-free entry to United States
