In the United States, President Donald Trump and his new administration is cracking down on illegal immigration since inauguration day, January 20; Federated States of Micronesia President Wesly Simina and the rest of his leadership are worried about their citizens who have made their homes in the U.S. and its territories.

An LS Bualuay said he felt something different reading the FSM Office of the President’s response to U.S. immigration policy changes and recommendation to keep valid identification — passport and i94 information — on your person at all times.

“It makes me sick that you are asking and encouraging us to be responsible,” LS Bualuay said.

Bualuay said he would rather that the leaders take the initiative as “our public servants and do your job.”

“Don’t wait for us to call your offices. Please take responsibility to reach out to our communities and provide us with alternatives so that we may not get mixed up in what this (U.S.) administration is doing to safeguard and enforce their laws and policies,” he also said.

They will be the ones affected if they lack the documents they need, he continued. And FSM officials need to make sure there is an easier way for us to update our documents — passport and I-94.

“For this to work, you must reach out to us in a way we will feel respected as constituent and tax payers. Social media must be your venue for community announcement.” 

Valerie Shiuwegar agreed and said, “It would be great if there was a quick and efficient way to renew passports out here, like at the Embassy in Washington, D.C.”

Elfriede D. Suda, a Chuukese woman, shared a video tutorial through Facebook to walk people through the process of getting your I-94. Fiffiti kich wóón néúch eei TUTORIAL ren napanapan ómw kopwe kútta noumw I-94 me wóón ewe I-94 Official Website. Amwo epwe ekis ánisi kich. There are others cropping up on Facebook.

The governor of Chuuk, Alexander Narruhn, is also posting an application form on his feed as well, Rekki Chuuk. You’ll just have to fill it in and mail it in. It is written in Chuukese so every Chuukese would not have any excuse of understanding it.

Between these two, at least, Chuukese who found this story in the ether will have a fighting chance for a peace of mind. Encourage your brothers and sisters, seems to be all they are saying, in the other three states in the Federation to do the same—Pohnpei, Kosrae and Yap.

Better yet, encourage all of the Micronesian brothers and sisters in the Marshalls and Palau as well (ones in the Compact of Free Associations with the U.S.). The brothers and sisters in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands and Guam are U.S. But there are still brothers and sisters there too.   

Buster Muritok of Chuuk said: “After work ngang uwa wesen kapaseis ngeni eman judge me fitemon lawyers ren an President Trump ei Administration. Kapas enet amenfen mix feelings SCARED, WORRIED, MAD and SAD.”

[I spoke directly with a judge and a number of lawyers about this Trump administration. To you tell the truth, I have mixed feelings. I’m scared, worried, mad and sad.]

“Tiro, ouse mochen, ami ekkewe mi kefilita me ren aramas pwe oupwe motungi ekkena sea (oupwe lead out me lon neniech), iwe ita epwele iei, oupwele porous. Help us out to understand what’s going on.”

[Pardon me, if it’s okay with you, those of you who were chosen by the people to lead out in your community, you should lead and start speaking now. Help us out to understand what’s going on.]

“Yes, we are struggling with this new deportation law,” said Sato Ruda from Hawaii. “We have lived in fear, those of us that don’t have passports and I-94, or [whose] documents [are expired]. We’ve complained to the ‘empty coconut shell.’ We’re worried. But we shouldn’t be. If we get deported from the mainland U.S., Hawaii or Guam; we’re still going to reach our homeland — Chuuk, Pohnpei, and the rest of FSM; Micronesia… Marshalls and Palau. But what if we’d reached the time of the end, when Jesus, Himself, would return. We then got only two realities, heaven or hell! No one will be able to say, ‘No, I’m going to Chuuk, or I’ll remain on this earth.’ No. And that’s the time we should be ready for. That’s the end that matters. It’s what’s worth thinking about. We only need to believe and do good, and happiness is assured as ours forevermore.”

Melanie Carbine, editor of the Marshallese newpaper Chikin Melele based in Arkansas, said she had checked with officials, and Micronesians status is still the same: “I talked to the Consul General. I talked to school officials. I confirmed reports of ICE attempting to detain individuals. But, nothing has changed about the rights of Marshallese and Micronesians to live and work in the United States as non-immigrant permanent residents.”

“Nothing has changed.” You still have your rights as an FSM citizen. But that’s not the thrust of our story. The push is, in the event you get swept up in Trump’s mass deportation, you should be ready when the ICE personnel are at your door. Again, make sure you have an updated copy of your passport, an updated copy of I-94 and an available contact list of your Embassy in D.C. or the nearest Consulate office.   

Editor’s note: Chikin Melele verified all reports of ICE raids and past deportations and spoke with representatives of both the FSM and RMI Consulates as well as school officials in several schools in Iowa as well as Arkansas. I deeply appreciate the journalistic and translation work of the Chikin Melele team and all those who responded to our inquiries as we also made sense of current changes to immigration policies. We are appreciative of all those in the community working on passport renewals, i94 verification, and warrant searches. We trust God is mindful of our circumstances and pray He will keep everyone and their families in His safe keeping.