The Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) is calling on the Government to take urgent diplomatic action in response to the United States’ deportation policy, warning that it poses serious risks to Fiji’s national security and economic stability.
SODELPA Leader, Aseri Radrodro, said the policy could see hard-working Fijian caregivers deported from the United States despite their vital role in the American healthcare system, while at the same time returning high-risk criminal offenders to Fiji without adequate security and reintegration safeguards.
Radrodro stressed that Fiji must leverage its strong diplomatic ties with the United States and Israel to negotiate exemptions and protections for Fijian nationals, particularly caregivers who are filling critical labour shortages overseas.
He said Fijian caregivers make a significant contribution to the US healthcare sector and send home more than $500 million in annual remittances, which play a crucial role in supporting Fiji’s economy.
According to Radrodro, the deportation of these workers would not only disrupt healthcare services in the US but also undermine Fiji’s financial stability.
At the same time, Radrodro acknowledged media reports indicating that some Fijian citizens facing deportation have been involved in serious criminal activities, including drug trafficking, human trafficking and gang-related offences.
He warned that Fiji must be adequately prepared to manage the return of such individuals through community readiness programmes, strengthened security forces and robust institutional support, to ensure reintegration is handled responsibly and does not allow criminal behaviour to take root in Fiji’s already fragile security environment.
Radrodro also said the United States has a moral responsibility to ensure deportation processes are carried out in a fair and secure manner, and in a way that is mindful of the wider impacts on small island nations such as Fiji.
SODELPA has urged the Government to act swiftly through diplomatic channels to protect law-abiding Fijians abroad while safeguarding national security at home.
