Despite the contentious discourse about immigration and the actual impact of increased immigration enforcement, the RMI government continues to encourage goodwill and diplomacy. When hurtful comments were made about Haitians and Marshallese at a town hall in Ohio last November, a Consulate outreach team visited the community and met with local leaders. They shared with them the history of the RMI and explained the Compact the U.S. and RMI have. Marshallese have said that it has been better since then. Though the RMI government continues to encourage outreach to understand and navigate the U.S. legal system, the fact that a Marshallese citizen is being held in Guantanamo has struck a nerve. A former U.S. FSM Consul General agreed “it’s a serious breach of the compact as well as international law.”
As reported in the Arkansas Times, the Guantánamo Bay Naval Base in southeast Cuba is known for its prison camp which held international terrorism suspects, including those involved in the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Centers. Nearly 800 prisoners from 48 countries were once confined on site. As few as 15 remain. Trump is reportedly holding hundreds of ICE detainees inside the derelict prison facility, which he said will accommodate 30,000.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement recently got $45 billion in new funding to expand detention prison capacity this year and beef up enforcement. Trump also issued a memo reallocating the U.S. National Guard, traditionally tasked with protecting the public from harm, to round up immigrants. Thousands of other federal agents also being reassigned to immigration enforcement to fulfill Trump’s deportation quota.
On July 8, CBS News reported that 72 immigration detainees had been moved to Guantanamo to await deportation. Among the home countries of these people, CBS News listed the Marshall Islands. Chikin Melele had been following the case of one particular man who had posted a video of ICE agents approaching him at his family’s home in Springdale in January. Because of information from friends and coworkers, we had been tracking his location using the online ICE locator. This is how we became aware that this was the Marshallese person being detained in Guantanamo. As we continue to talk about what action needs to be taken, we also remember this man and his family in our prayers.
Riem Simon, member of the Marshallese Deportation Taskforce as a former deportee, said that “every step toward dignity begins with knowing where to start”. When Chikin Melele confirmed and reported that one of our community had been moved to Guantanamo, Riem reshared the post on social media and commented:
“What many don’t realize is that almost every federal prison plays a role in the deportation process, either through paperwork, interviews, or legal classification. Inside each unit, you’ll often find what’s called a “building board”—a central spot where information is posted about how to contact federal attorneys, immigration officers, and legal aid programs. These are services meant to be free and accessible.
To get started, incarcerated individuals must ask their unit Correctional Officers (CO) for a request form. Once filled out, they can learn:
- Who to contact for immigration concerns
- How to request legal representation
- Whether their case is eligible for review or delay
And don’t overlook community wisdom inside the walls: Ask your cellmates or fellow inmates. Many have walked this road before. Some have learned to file their own paperwork or even study law while serving time. Starting legal education inside isn’t just a strategy—it’s survival. It’s power.
This system may not be perfect, and it doesn’t always respond with fairness—but knowledge is your first defense. If we can teach returnees this before deportation, we change outcomes. If we can help families understand what to ask for, we give them a fighting chance.”
Though it might be too late for this man to appeal his case, and current policies are not in his favor, we should remember him for his courage. If he had signed deportation papers, we would not be talking about this with as much concern as we are. As one long time resident of Springdale said on social media:
“Ewi wāwein ad jipañ e? Embassy ne ad ilo Washington ej aikuj jebarujruj im Nitijela ñan jipañ ḷaddik in. Ejab kar aikuj etal ñan ijen plus ñe ejjeḷọk men en kien eo ad ekōṃṃane enaaj aindene aer leḷọk ri Majōl ñan prison kamijak kane a ṃool in criminal rane. Likūti number ko an opiij kein ad bwe aolep ri Majōl ro ilo States ren kall e er im email ḷọk er kōn abōṇōṇō in. Kall e ri kweḷọk ro ad im ba ren lale ta remaroñ kōṃṃane ñan jipañ ḷaddik in. Joñane rej torture aolep awa, aolep raan toon wōt an kalbuuj ijen. Jemed Ilañ jouj im tiriamo kōn ḷaddik in im jipañ e.”
“How can we help him? Our embassy in Washington DC, along with the Marshallese government (Nitijela) needs to take action to help this young man. He shouldn’t have been sent there, since he did not commit any major crime. If the government doesn’t do anything about it, they will keep sending Marshallese to the maximum security prison where real criminals are sent. We need to be able to contact our legislatures to see if they are taking action toward helping this young man. He could very well be abused and mistreated every day while he’s there. Father in heaven please have mercy for this young man while he’s in prison.”
Read more about the legal, constitutional, and ethical issues related to the detention of Marshallese at Guantanamo: Legal Advocacy Statement on the Detention of COFA Residents at Guantánamo Bay (Benson Gideon).
Reported abuses and overcrowding in immigration detention centers in Florida: “You Feel Like Your Life Is Over”: Abusive Practices at Three Florida Immigration Detention Centers Since January 2025 | HRW
These are some other possible resources to learn more about detention and incarceration:
Immigration Detention and Removal: A Guide for Detainees and their Families
Defeating Ice Hold Requests (Immigration Detainers)
How to Bring a Federal Lawsuit to Challenge Violations of your Rights in Prison
