Palau Considers US Proposal to Accept Asylum Seekers

The Trump administration has proposed an agreement with the small Pacific island nation of Palau to accept asylum seekers currently residing in the United States, marking a continuation of U.S. efforts to shift responsibility for migrants to third countries. Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. has received the proposal, which would give Palau full discretion over whether to accept individuals, excluding unaccompanied minors, but the nation’s Council of Chiefs has yet to decide. Palau, with a population of about 20,000 and no existing infrastructure to process or house asylum seekers long-term, faces significant questions regarding its capacity, legal protections, and the potential impact on local communities. The draft agreement would require Palau to hold asylum seekers while their claims are processed and prevent their return to home countries during that time, although Palau is not a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention and must rely on its own laws. The U.S. has considered similar arrangements with other countries like El Salvador, Libya, Rwanda, Guatemala, and Honduras, often amid human rights concerns. Palau remains a close U.S. ally under a Compact of Free Association agreement, receiving financial and defense support, and has recently expanded U.S. military facilities amid regional security tensions.