Palau, United States, Migration, Immigration Policy, Third-Country Nationals

By: Christopher Louissaint

Email: newsroom@haitianprimenews.com

Date: December 24, 2025

Location: Koror, Palau

The government of Palau has confirmed it signed a memorandum of understanding with the United States allowing a limited number of migrants currently in U.S. custody to live and work in the Pacific island nation, a move that underscores Washington’s expanding use of third-country relocation agreements.

The Office of the President of Palau said the agreement permits the transfer of up to 75 third-country nationals from the United States and includes U.S. financial assistance tied to public services and infrastructure, confirming details that had circulated in international reporting.

The agreement follows months of quiet negotiations between U.S. and Palauan officials after earlier proposals faced resistance within Palau’s political system. The migrants covered by the deal are individuals the United States has described as unable to be readily repatriated to their countries of origin, placing the arrangement within a broader U.S. effort to manage immigration through bilateral partnerships.

Under the memorandum, Palau will accept a capped number of migrants who will be eligible to reside and work in the country under Palauan law. The agreement formalizes Palau’s role as a receiving country for U.S. third-country transfers and commits U.S. funding to support implementation.

The deal expands U.S. leverage in enforcing immigration policy beyond its borders while positioning Palau as a cooperative partner in migration management despite its small population and limited administrative capacity. For Palau, the agreement brings financial assistance but also places new demands on governance, labor oversight, and public services.

The agreement is capped at 75 individuals. It was confirmed on December 24, 2025. The migrants are described by U.S. officials as having no known criminal history. The memorandum includes U.S. financial support, though the full text and duration of the agreement have not been publicly released.

According to the Office of the President of Palau, the memorandum allows third-country nationals from the United States to reside and work in Palau and requires compliance with Palauan laws and regulations. The U.S. Department of State separately confirmed the agreement, describing it as part of bilateral cooperation between the two governments.

Implementation details, including arrival timelines and oversight mechanisms, have not been publicly disclosed. As of publication, the full memorandum has not been released, and no legislative ratification notice from Palau’s National Congress has been made public.

SOURCES:

Office of the President of the Republic of Palau — Official government statement

U.S. Department of State — Office of the Spokesperson statement

U.S. Embassy in Koror — Government release