Overview
- Palau and the United States formalized the arrangement in a memorandum of understanding signed by Minister of State Gustav Aitaro and U.S. Ambassador Joel Ehrendreich.
- Eligible migrants have not been charged with crimes and may live and work in Palau, with each placement vetted and approved individually by Palauan authorities.
- Beyond the $7.5 million grant for public services, the U.S. pledged $6 million to support civil service pension reforms and $2 million for law enforcement initiatives.
- President Surangel Whipps Jr. and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau discussed the deal by phone, with U.S. statements also highlighting support for health and disaster-response capacity.
- One outlet cited a $75 million figure, but official statements and multiple reports describe $7.5 million in direct assistance, situating the deal within the administration’s broader push to relocate migrants to third countries.