The US Embassy in Fiji has issued a clear and alarming message regarding visa violations to residents in the Pacific, including Tongans.
Individuals who overstay their U.S. visas could face a permanent ban on re-entering the United States, the Embassy said in a statement.
This strongly worded warning appears to be the first direct message from the US Embassy targeting Tongans and other Pacific islanders since the Trump administration’s deportation crackdown policy began earlier this year.
The warning underscores the seriousness of visa compliance and the potential consequences of violations.
It said the consular officers have full access to immigration histories and will be able to identify any past violations.
The embassy stressed that there is no such thing as an “honest mistake” when it comes to visa regulations.
Travelers are reminded that it is their responsibility to adhere to the terms of their visas, or they could be subject to criminal prosecution in addition to the risk of a lifetime ban.
The warning follows Tonga’s Prime Minister Aisake Eke’s opposition to Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. Eke stated that the influx of deported migrants will only exacerbate the kingdom’s existing challenges.
Dr. Eke expressed concerns that Mr. Trump’s plans to expel migrants might bring more deportees with criminal records to Tonga’s shores.
The latest update from US media regarding the deportation crackdown reports that the government relies on tattoos and social media posts as sufficient grounds for deportation to a third country.
They also said that as many as four in five immigrants at risk of deportation from the United States are Christian, according to a new report that calls on their fellow believers to consider the impact of the Trump administration’s aggressive deportation policies.
The report says about 10 million Christians are vulnerable to deportation, and 7 million U.S. citizens who are Christian live in households where someone is at risk of deportation.
The report, under the auspices of major Catholic and evangelical organizations, draws on a range of data, including percentages of religious affiliation in various migrant and national populations and on an advocacy group’s analysis of U.S. census data on migrants.
