'Palau Signs Controversial $7.5 Million Deal to Take 75 Trump Deportees'

[sop]

"The office of Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr. announced a memorandum of understanding with the United States under which the country will receive $7.5 million in assistance in exchange for taking in 75 third-country deportees who cannot be repatriated to their countries of origin."

"However, Palauans have voiced concerns over US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s remarks during a Cabinet meeting earlier this year in which he said that, 'We want to send some of the most despicable human beings—perverts, pedophiles, and child rapists—to your countries as a favor to us.' "

"Whipps said Wednesday that the relocation plan involves 'people seeking safety and stability.' 'These are not criminals,' the president said during earlier debate on the proposal. 'Their only offense was entering the United States illegally and working without proper permits.' "

"Reactions to the US-Palau agreement drew criticism on social media, where one X user called the deal a 'bribe' and another popular Bluesky account asked, 'What if we spent the $100,000 per person in America setting them up with housing assistance, healthcare, education, etc?' "

https://www.commondreams.org/news/us-palau-deportees