Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has expressed support for US President Donald Trump’s plans to deport illegal immigrants, saying it is a matter of national sovereignty.
“It is a sovereign right, and those who are there illegally should be sent back,” Mr Rabuka stated.
Mr Trump’s plan has raised concerns about the potential impact not only on Fijians living in the US, but their families here in Fiji as well.
According to the Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF), remittances from Fijians overseas have been Fiji’s second-largest source of foreign income since 2004, following tourism.
“For many individuals and households, personal remittances help support consumption for their families, which include purchases of household goods and motor vehicles. They may be used for social activities such as weddings, funerals, and other community projects. These funds may also be used for investment purposes like constructing houses, starting up new or supporting existing small businesses, and education,” states the RBF report on personal remittances in Fiji.
Meanwhile, the US Department of Homeland Security recently announced it would end a policy that limited Immigration and Customs agents from arresting undocumented people in sensitive locations such as churches, schools, and hospitals.
