A statistical report released by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E) has revealed that 22 Tongan immigrants/visitors were deported from the United States in 2016.
The number is a significant increase from 2015 when ICE recorded 16 deportations to Tonga.
According to Matangi Tonga, the report showed that in 2016, deportations to Tonga (22) were larger than that of nationals of Samoa (3), Fiji (12), New Zealand (16), Palau (10) and Papua New Guinea (1).
The Pacific Island country with the largest deportation numbers was the Marshall Islands (35). T
The country with the largest deportation numbers in 2016 altogether was Mexico (149,821).
The report stated in its conclusion, “Over the course of FY (Fiscal Year) 2016, ICE has continued to improve its ability to target individuals who threaten public safety, national security, and border security as demonstrated by the fact that 99.3 percent of individuals that ICE removed met ICE’s civil immigration enforcement priorities."