The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will deport 57 Samoans as the new American administration sticks to its promise of sending illegal immigrants back home, as listed in the non-detained docket.

The most recent records, as of 24 November 2024, show 1,445,529 non-citizens who have been ordered to leave the country but are not currently in ICE detention. 

The non-detained docket is a critical document that tracks non-citizens who, according to U.S. authorities, are removable but have not yet been detained by ICE. 

The docket is not intended to be a public list of names; rather, it highlights individuals believed to be living unlawfully in the U.S., awaiting either voluntary departure or enforcement action.

For nations like Samoa, which has a long-standing relationship with the United States, the implications of these removal orders are significant. 

The 57 Samoans on the list are part of a broader trend of Pacific Islanders, including citizens from Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji, who face deportation under the Trump administration's aggressive stance on immigration.

US President Donald Trump made clear his administration's intent to crack down on what he describes as an "unprecedented flood of illegal immigration" into the U.S. 

During his campaign, mass deportation was one of his key promises, and he pledged to begin the deportation process on his first day in office. The executive orders signed in January 2025, including one titled "Protecting the American People Against Invasion," aim to expedite the removal of undocumented migrants from the country, which could culminate in the largest mass deportation operation in U.S. history.

The Trump administration claims that millions of undocumented migrants entered the US unlawfully over the past four years, and they have indicated a renewed push to address this issue. 

While the rhetoric surrounding the deportations highlights concerns about border security and immigration enforcement, the impact on individuals and countries of origin—especially Pacific Island nations—has been profound.

In the case of Samoa, Minister for Police and Prison Faualo Harry Schuster was asked to comment on the issue in a recent interview. He expressed a resigned stance on the matter, stating, "We just have to accept them back into the country." 

Faualo’s comments reflect the challenges faced by small island nations in dealing with the complex realities of immigration enforcement abroad.

Samoa is not the only Pacific nation affected by this policy shift. 

The ICE non-detained docket also includes substantial numbers from other Pacific Island countries. 

Fiji, for instance, has the highest number of individuals from the Pacific countries, including New Zealand and Australia listed for deportation, with 353 Fijians on the list. 

Other Pacific nations such as Tonga, the Federated States of Micronesia, and New Zealand are also significantly represented, with 151 Tongans, 72 Micronesians, and 166 New Zealanders facing final orders of removal. Other countries like Australia (261 individuals), Palau (8), and the Solomon Islands (3) also have citizens who may be impacted by the deportation push.

The broad scope of the deportation list, which includes individuals from a wide array of countries across the Pacific, highlights the global nature of immigration issues and the far-reaching consequences of U.S. immigration policies.

The Trump administration’s aggressive approach to immigration reform is not without controversy, with critics arguing that it could disrupt families, communities, and the economies of smaller nations. While some US officials emphasise the need for stringent immigration control to protect national security and uphold the rule of law, others warn that the repercussions of mass deportations could be devastating for those affected and for US-Pacific Island relations.