Palau has agreed to host up to 75 third-country nationals from the United States under a new agreement, a decision that comes as Tongans express growing frustration over US visa restrictions that Washington says will take effect in the first week of the New Year.
Palau and Tonga, two small Pacific island nations, were previously approached by the Trump administration with proposals that included hosting people removed from the United States, part of a broader effort to relocate third-country nationals outside US territory.
Palau Signs Deal
Under a new memorandum of understanding, Palau will allow up to 75 third-country nationals from the United States to live and work on the sparsely populated archipelago. Palauan officials said on Wednesday that the individuals have not been charged with crimes and are expected to help fill labour shortages in the country.
The agreement comes after Palau’s national congress stated in July that it would not accept the U.S. initiative.
Palau said this week it would assess arrivals on a case-by-case basis under the arrangement. In return, the United States will provide US$7.5 million to support Palau’s public services and infrastructure.
The agreement was announced following a call between Palau President Surangel Whipps and US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau. Washington will also provide an additional US$6 million for reforms aimed at preventing the collapse of Palau’s civil service pension plan, as well as a further US$2 million for law enforcement initiatives.
In a statement, the US State Department said the partnership would strengthen security and contribute to a “more secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.”
Travel Restrictions Bite
In Tonga, concerns have intensified following the US announcement that visa restrictions will take effect on January 1, 2026. However, speculation has emerged that elements of the ban may already be in force.
As previously reported by Kaniva News, Professor Tevita Ka‘ili of Brigham Young University–Hawai‘i said parents of graduating Tongan students were unable to travel to the United States to attend the university’s graduation ceremony on December 12. Tongans make up the second-largest international student population at the university, Ka’ili said.
He suggested the parents’ inability to travel may be linked to the visa restrictions, despite the official start date still being more than several weeks away.
Public frustration has also been reflected in calls to local radio stations. Recorded calls aired on Letiō ‘a e Kakai FM 88.1, obtained by Kaniva News, featured callers lamenting visa refusals and travel disruptions.
According to callers, travellers who previously held 10-year multiple-entry US visas were denied renewals, while others who regularly visited the United States were also unable to extend their visas.
The US government has not confirmed whether any elements of the new visa restrictions are being enforced ahead of the announced start date.
Closed-Door Talks
Tonga was warned in June, along with 36 other countries, about the potential US immigration measures.
Tonga’s then prime minister, Dr ‘Aisake Eke, described the proposal as “alarming” and said the matter had been referred to the Crown Prince and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which he said were working closely with the US Embassy in Nuku‘alofa.
No official decision or agreement had been publicly announced before the US announcement last week, which took the public by surprise.
While Palau has moved from initial rejection to a formal agreement with Washington, Tonga remains without a publicly defined outcome, highlighting differing responses among Pacific nations to US immigration and visa policies amid growing public scrutiny.
The US visa restrictions for Tonga include B-1 and B-2 visas, which are non-immigrant permits for temporary visits such as business or tourism. F, M, and J visas are non-immigrant categories for students and exchange visitors.
According to the 2020 US Census, more than 48,000 people identified solely as Tongan in the United States. When including those who reported Tongan heritage in combination with other races or ancestries, the total exceeds 78,000.
