Sources inside the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement have confirmed that no Tongan nationals were arrested during last month’s raids.
As Kaniva News reported, unsourced news reports claimed that hundreds of Tongans had been arrested in the raids which occurred across the United States.
The stories also claimed that the Tongans who had supposedly been arrested were liable for deportation.
One site claimed 831 Tongans had been deported in the raids on illegal migrants in the US.
However, this number was higher than the total number of 680 arrests arrests reported by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.
According to ICE statistics, in 2016 a total of 16 Tongans were deported from the US by immigration authorities.
Bogus stories about changes to US immigration laws have also circulated.
Meanwhile, US and Tongan officials are meeting in Nuku’alofa this week to discuss problems surrounding the reintegration of Tongan deportees into the kingdom.
Tongan deportees often face serious difficulties adjusting to a culture, language and traditions with which they may be completely unfamiliar.
US Ambassador to Tonga Judith Cefkin said reintegrating deportees into Tongan society was a major concern.
Some limited services are available to help deportees, but these organisations themselves often struggle for support.
The US has agreed to give the Tongan government three weeks’ notice of the arrival of deportees and to criminal records.
The main points
- Sources inside the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement have confirmed that no Tongan nationals were arrested during last month’s raids.
- As Kaniva News reported, bogus stories also claimed that the Tongans who had supposedly been arrested were liable for deportation.
- Meanwhile, US and Tongan officials are meeting in Nuku’alofa this week to discuss problems surrounding the reintegration of Tongan deportees into the kingdom.
- Tongan deportees often face serious problems adjusting to local culture and society.
For more information
Reports of mass arrests follow bogus stories about US immigration policy
