“BE HAPPY”
“And hopefully they can get jobs and be happy in Palau.”
The deal requires that all deportees have a clean criminal record and Palau retains full veto rights over who it chooses to accept.
In exchange, the United States pays Palau US$7.5 million to meet “public service and infrastructure needs”.
But critics have voiced deep concern, accusing the United States of using nations like Palau as a dumping ground for unwanted migrants.
Lawmakers from Palau’s senate lost a last-ditch legal challenge to stop the policy earlier this year.
“Palau’s sovereignty is disrespected at this time,” said senate leader Hokkons Baules in February.
“We feel they’re dumping their problems in Palau,” he told Australian national broadcaster ABC.
A spokesman for the US Department of State said the Trump administration was “unwavering in our commitment to end illegal and mass immigration and bolster America’s border security.”
“As a general matter, we do not comment on the details of our private diplomatic communications with other governments,” they told AFP.
With some 20,000 people spread across hundreds of volcanic isles and coral atolls, Palau is by population one of the smallest countries in the world.
It has long been one of the United States’ closest allies in the Pacific region, and is one of the few countries to recognise Taiwan over China.
Palau gained independence in 1994 but allows the US military to use its territory under a longstanding “Compact of Free Association” agreement.
In return, the United States gives Palau hundreds of millions of dollars in budgetary support and assumes responsibility for its national defence.