The New Zealand Government has voiced serious concerns over a proposed United States travel ban that could block citizens from three Pacific nations, Tonga, Vanuatu and Tuvalu from entering the country.
It’s part of U.S President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration crackdown, and Pacific communities here said they’re stunned wondering what they’ve done wrong.
Outside of Tonga itself, Auckland is home to the largest Tongan population in the world. Tongans make up one of New Zealand’s most vibrant and close-knit communities. But under new proposals, they could soon find themselves blacklisted by the U.S.
The Trump administration is reportedly considering adding 26 more countries to its growing travel ban list including the three Pacific nations citing concerns over national security.
New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters said the Government is seeking urgent clarification.
“Well of course we are concerned about that and we will be talking to our colleagues and friends in all of those countries as to what we can do to clarify the circumstances,” he said.
Deputy Labour Leader Carmel Sepuloni, the first MP of Tongan descent in New Zealand, said Pacific families have every right to feel confused and frustrated.
“I’ve spoken to some of the members of our Pacific community that come from those countries and the questions they have are …why us?! We’re such tiny nations. What have we done? What risk do we pose to the United States of America?”
Sepuloni said the communities involved are owed a clear explanation.
“I would be saying to the members of our Pacific communities from those nations that they have every right to ask those questions and that they should be asking those questions and they should be demanding those answers.”
The proposed travel restrictions are part of a broader crackdown on immigration in Trump’s second term. Earlier this year, he banned 12 countries from entering the U.S. The latest group of 26 flagged for potential bans includes the three Pacific countries, as well as several African and Caribbean nations.
According to an internal U,S State Department cable, concerns include inadequate passport security, visa overstaying, and failure by some governments to cooperate on deportation orders. None of the Pacific nations in question currently have embassies in the U.S.
Sepuloni said the rationale didn’t stack up.
“I mean, keep in mind here that a country like Tuvalu only has a population of 10,000. How many are even wanting to go to the U.S or attempting to go each year? And as they have said to me, they’re questioning what risks do they pose and what have they done wrong to have been placed on this list. It seems very unfair to have this proposed and not have those answers.”
The countries under review have reportedly been given 60 days to address what the U.S describes as serious security and cooperation failures or face a full or partial travel ban. Stuff approached the U.S Embassy in Wellington for clarification. It referred to general information on the earlier bans, and said any official update would come from Washington.
Source: Stuff/Pacnews
