US Implements New Travel Restrictions Affecting Tongan Nationals
The United States has implemented new travel restrictions specifically targeting Tongan nationals, which came into effect on January 1. These measures primarily involve the suspension of issuing visas for short-term visits, tourism, and business purposes.
In a separate action, two weeks after these initial rules, the US State Department also suspended processing immigrant visas for individuals from 75 countries, including Fiji.
Reasons Cited by the White House
The White House has provided several reasons for including Tonga in the travel restrictions. Key factors include a high visa overstay rate among Tongan nationals, estimated at about 14 percent.
Additional concerns highlighted by the administration include unreliable civil documents, the presence of criminal records, a lack of robust birth registration systems within Tonga, and the Tongan government's refusal to share data and repatriate deportees.
US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that the measures ensure visitors comply with legal entry and exit requirements.
Impact on Tongan Citizens and Diaspora
The new restrictions have created significant challenges for Tongan citizens. Lionel Funaki, a Tongan national who previously studied at Brigham Young University in Hawaii, expressed that his plans for continuing his education are now uncertain.
Funaki described the policy as "collective punishment."
These restrictions have caused considerable frustration within Tonga, a nation with a substantial diaspora in the US, particularly in states like Utah, Hawaii, and San Francisco. The approximately 78,000 people of Tongan heritage living in the US, according to the 2020 census, regularly travel between the two countries. Remittances from this diaspora represent a major source of income for Tonga's economy.
Experts have also noted potential difficulties for families wishing to visit US-based relatives for religious or cultural events.
Calls for Diplomacy and Criticism in the US
Semisi Fa'asolo, a Tongan-born American citizen, suggested that Tonga engage in diplomatic efforts to address the situation.
Critics in the US have also voiced concerns about the policy. Hawaii state senator Jarrett Keohokalole called the restrictions "draconian" and suggested that diplomacy could address visa overstay rates more effectively than blanket restrictions.
Keohokalole also expressed concerns that these restrictions, combined with a recent Supreme Court ruling, could empower US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to use racial profiling in investigations.
Community Response and Anxiety
Fahina Pasi, executive director of the National Tongan American Society, reported that the policies have caused widespread anxiety among the Tongan diaspora. Some individuals are now hesitant to travel overseas for fear of being denied re-entry into the US. Her organization provides legal advice to the community affected by these changes.