Palau to Accept 75 Third-Country Nationals Under US Deportation Agreement
Palau has agreed to accept up to 75 third-country nationals who have never been charged with a crime to live and work in Palau as part of a U.S. deportation agreement. The arrangement was formalized through a memorandum of understanding, with Palau citing labor shortages as a key motivation for the deal.
Under this agreement, the United States will provide $7.5 million in foreign aid to Palau to support public services. Additionally, $6 million will be allocated to Palau’s civil service pension plan, and $2 million will be directed towards new law enforcement initiatives.
The announcements were made by the office of Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. and the U.S. Embassy in Koror. Palau has a population of about 18,000.
This deal is part of a broader framework under the Biden administration, with the U.S. committing approximately $889 million in aid to Palau over 20 years, according to the State Department.
The article also notes a wider pattern of deportation agreements as the Trump administration accelerated mass removals, with other countries such as Uganda, Rwanda, Eswatini, South Sudan, Costa Rica, Panama, and El Salvador participating in similar arrangements.
