US removes Tonga from visa program [1]
Thursday, January 14, 2021 - 17:22. Updated on Friday, January 15, 2021 - 09:32.
Tonga has been kicked out of the United States non-immigrant worker programs H-2A and H-2B due to Tonga’s "refusal to accept ICE charter flights for the repatriation of its nationals that have been ordered removed from the United States".
The H-2A and H-2B visa programs allow US employers to bring foreign nationals to the United States to fill temporary agricultural and nonagricultural jobs, respectively. “ICE” is an acronym for “Immigration and Customs Enforcement”.
In a published notice by the Department of Homeland Security [2] on 13 January, 2021, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) FY 2020 mid-year assessment designated Tonga as ‘At Risk of Non-Compliance’.
The notice said Tonga's inconsistent cooperation with the United States regarding the return of its nationals and citizens with final orders of removal does not serve the US interest.
“Therefore, the Secretary of Homeland Security, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, is removing Tonga from the list of H-2A and H-2B eligible countries.”
Tonga’s removal from the worker visa programs will be effective from 19 January 2021, to 18 January 2022.
Samoa is the only other Pacific country that has also been removed from the same worker visa programs.