The
July 30 - August 12, 2025
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Kaselehlie Press
The
July 30, 2025
Free bi-weekly publication
Vol. 25 Issue No. 16
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FSM citizen not deported to Guantánamo, FSM Ambassador to the U.S. confirms By Alex Rhowuniong Chikin Melele and Bill Jaynes The Kaselehlie Press
report noted that Marshallese and Micronesian nationals were among those detained, prompting urgent inquiries by FSM officials and members of the public. (also see article on page 3)
July 25, 2025 Washington D.C.—A citizen of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) believed by some to have been deported to the U.S. military detention facility in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, is instead still in ICE custody in Arizona, according to a report by Alex Rhowuniong for the Chikin Melele blog.
Rhowuniong reached out to FSM government representatives, including FSM Ambassador to the United States Jackson T. Soram, who responded via email.
“As of this evening, ICE has not confirmed to us if any of our FSM citizens are detained in Guantánamo,” Soram told Rhowuniong. “We know there was a mix-up earlier in the week with one individual presumed to be at GITMO, but after we registered our concerns and urged ICE to work with us, they informed us that the individual was actually detained in Concerns were raised earlier this month Miami, and not at GITMO. He has been returned to Arizona following a July 8 CBS News report where he was originally detained.” indicating that 72 immigration detainees with final deportation orders had been Soram said that, as of the most recent correspondence, there transferred to Guantánamo. The same is still no confirmation from ICE regarding FSM nationals
Photo by Marshall Islands Office of National Security The first-ever US military flight carrying 18 Marshall Islanders deported from the United States by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrived Majuro on June 10 this year.
being held at Guantánamo. “We are not aware of any of our FSM citizens detained at GITMO at the moment,” he said, adding that the Embassy will continue to work with ICE to obtain and verify information about FSM citizens in U.S. click here for continuation
Pohnpei Supreme Court suspends sentence in abuse cover-up by Fijian mother psychological abuse, and unlawful the government was represented by harassment; confinement of a family member. She was acquitted of a separate charge By Bill Jaynes requiring mandatory reporting of child The Kaselehlie Press abuse, as the court determined she was not a legally defined mandatory reporter July 26, 2025 Pohnpei--The Pohnpei Supreme Court under Pohnpei law. has sentenced Fijian national Miriama Naivalu Delai to eight years in prison, The court determined that Delai went to suspended under strict conditions, for great lengths to conceal her daughter’s her role in covering up the sexual abuse pregnancy and prevent the abuse from and resulting pregnancy of her underage becoming known. The crimes came to daughter, who was impregnated by her light only after outside intervention. Her husband, the victim’s father, had own biological father. already been tried, convicted, and Delai, who had been working in Pohnpei, sentenced for the incest-related crimes. was found guilty on seven of eight He served a prison sentence in Pohnpei criminal counts, including conspiracy, and was deported back to Fiji. solicitation, failure to report criminal activity, harassment, intimidation, During the July 7 sentencing hearing,
Assistant Attorney General Elias Tyson, while Acting Public Defender Timoci Romanu represented the defendant. Judge J.D. Anson issued the judgment on July 11.
• One year and $1,000 fine for intimidation; • One year and $1,000 fine for psychological abuse; • One year and $1,000 fine for unlawful confinement.
The sentences, all to be served consecutively, amount to eight years Despite the severity of the crimes, Judge of incarceration and $5,500 in fines. Anson suspended the prison sentence, placing Delai on probation with several Specifically, Delai received: court-ordered conditions. She must • Two years, six months obey all laws, surrender her passport, imprisonment and a $1,000 fine for seek permission for any travel outside Pohnpei, report to a court marshal conspiracy to commit a crime; • Six months imprisonment for every three months, and pay her fines solicitation to commit a crime; • One year and $500 fine for compounding a crime; click here for continuation • One year and $1,000 fine for
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