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To: President Surangel Whipps Jr.
Petition to Protect Palau’s Sovereignty, Safety, and Cultural Identity
Dear Mr. President,
I write with deep concern and respect for the future of our beloved Republic of Palau. I respectfully urge you to reconsider and withdraw from the recently signed agreement with the United States to relocate third‑country immigrants to Palau.
Palauans fought hard for our independence. Our elders and ancestors endured decades of colonial rule and made great sacrifices so that Palau could stand as a sovereign nation — governing itself, protecting its culture, and prioritizing its own people. This agreement feels like a step backward from those hard‑won freedoms. Instead of strengthening our independence, it risks placing Palau once again in a position of serving external agendas.
Despite clear opposition from traditional chiefs, lawmakers, and concerned citizens, this agreement moved forward. The Council of Chiefs and members of Congress have warned that Palau lacks the infrastructure, legal framework, and social capacity to absorb immigrants from outside our region. Ignoring these warnings undermines traditional leadership and community trust.
The United States itself continues to struggle with immigration‑related challenges, including overwhelmed public services, housing shortages, and the spread of drugs and trafficking networks. These are not abstract concerns. Opening Palau to immigrants whose full backgrounds we do not know exposes our small island nation to risks we are not equipped to manage — including crime, drug trafficking, and social instability.
We do not know who these individuals are, their histories, or whether they have been involved in drugs, trafficking, or other criminal activity. Even well‑intentioned programs carry serious consequences when implemented without full transparency and capacity. What strains large nations can devastate small ones.
Most troubling is the misplaced priority this agreement represents. Our government should be focused on improving Palau so our children can come home — investing in education, jobs, housing, healthcare, and cultural preservation. Instead, resources and attention are being diverted to accommodating outsiders, while many Palauans continue to leave due to limited opportunity.
Palau should not be asked to solve problems created by another nation. Any aid offered in exchange for this agreement does not outweigh the long‑term risks to our sovereignty, culture, and safety.
I respectfully ask that you suspend and ultimately reject this agreement, reopen dialogue with traditional leaders and citizens, and consider a national referendum so the people of Palau may decide this matter together.
Our independence was hard fought. Please do not allow it to be eroded.
Respectfully,
Concerned Palauan Citizen
I write with deep concern and respect for the future of our beloved Republic of Palau. I respectfully urge you to reconsider and withdraw from the recently signed agreement with the United States to relocate third‑country immigrants to Palau.
Palauans fought hard for our independence. Our elders and ancestors endured decades of colonial rule and made great sacrifices so that Palau could stand as a sovereign nation — governing itself, protecting its culture, and prioritizing its own people. This agreement feels like a step backward from those hard‑won freedoms. Instead of strengthening our independence, it risks placing Palau once again in a position of serving external agendas.
Despite clear opposition from traditional chiefs, lawmakers, and concerned citizens, this agreement moved forward. The Council of Chiefs and members of Congress have warned that Palau lacks the infrastructure, legal framework, and social capacity to absorb immigrants from outside our region. Ignoring these warnings undermines traditional leadership and community trust.
The United States itself continues to struggle with immigration‑related challenges, including overwhelmed public services, housing shortages, and the spread of drugs and trafficking networks. These are not abstract concerns. Opening Palau to immigrants whose full backgrounds we do not know exposes our small island nation to risks we are not equipped to manage — including crime, drug trafficking, and social instability.
We do not know who these individuals are, their histories, or whether they have been involved in drugs, trafficking, or other criminal activity. Even well‑intentioned programs carry serious consequences when implemented without full transparency and capacity. What strains large nations can devastate small ones.
Most troubling is the misplaced priority this agreement represents. Our government should be focused on improving Palau so our children can come home — investing in education, jobs, housing, healthcare, and cultural preservation. Instead, resources and attention are being diverted to accommodating outsiders, while many Palauans continue to leave due to limited opportunity.
Palau should not be asked to solve problems created by another nation. Any aid offered in exchange for this agreement does not outweigh the long‑term risks to our sovereignty, culture, and safety.
I respectfully ask that you suspend and ultimately reject this agreement, reopen dialogue with traditional leaders and citizens, and consider a national referendum so the people of Palau may decide this matter together.
Our independence was hard fought. Please do not allow it to be eroded.
Respectfully,
Concerned Palauan Citizen
Why is this important?
Palau is not a large country with vast land, infrastructure, or unlimited resources. We already face challenges related to housing, healthcare, education, and employment for our own people. Introducing a population from a completely different cultural background—one with histories, customs, and experiences unfamiliar to us—raises serious concerns about our capacity to integrate them safely and responsibly.
Historically, Palau has welcomed people from within the Pacific who share Pasifika values, traditions, and ways of life. The people of Echang are a clear example of this—welcomed, integrated, and now a valued part of our community. This was possible because of shared cultural understanding and regional ties. The current proposal does not reflect the same circumstances.
We do not know the full backgrounds of these refugees, including prior involvement in criminal activity, trafficking, or drug-related issues. As a small island nation, we are uniquely vulnerable. What may be manageable for larger countries could have irreversible consequences for Palau.
We need only look to other Pacific nations, such as Fiji, where unchecked migration and foreign influence have led to social strain and loss of local control. Palau must learn from these examples and not repeat them.
Our ancestors fought tirelessly for Palauan independence and self-determination. Today, many of us fear that decisions like this move us backward—placing foreign interests and short-term financial gain above the long-term safety, culture, and future of our people.