By: Eoghan Olkeriil Ngirudelsang
NGERULMUD, Palau (July 24, 2025) — Palau’s national legislature has called on President Surangel Whipps Jr. to take urgent action to ensure Palauan citizens deported from the United States are returned directly to Palau, not to offshore detention centers such as the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay.
In a joint letter dated June 21, 2025, Senate President Hokkons Baules and House Speaker Gibson Kanai, speaking on behalf of the entire Twelfth Olbiil Era Kelulau (OEK), urged the president “to take any and all steps necessary” to prevent Palauan deportees from being sent to facilities like Guantanamo.
“If any Palauan citizen is to be legally removed from the United States, such citizen should be deported to Palau,” the letter stated.
The lawmakers’ appeal follows recent reports that nationals from the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) have been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and sent to Guantanamo Bay, a facility originally designed to hold terrorism suspects after the September 11 attacks.
Marianas Variety reported that at least one Marshallese national is currently being held at the Guantanamo facility, citing confirmation from Marshall Islands Ambassador to the United States Charles Paul.
The developments come amid a renewed immigration crackdown under former President Donald Trump’s policies, which are reportedly being reinstated. According to Nation News, 72 individuals from 26 countries — including citizens of the FSM and RMI — were transferred to Guantanamo last week as part of ICE enforcement actions.
It is currently unclear whether any Palauan citizens have been affected by this policy. However, the OEK’s letter underscores mounting concern that Palauans could be swept up in similar deportation efforts.