From Mislabeling to Misinformation
What Is the FSM Doing to Defend Us?
In just the past week, two troubling examples of misinformation about Micronesians have emerged in U.S. media and official communications—both of them harmful, and both of them wrong.
First, the White House’s official X/Twitter account referred to an FSM citizen arrested by ICE as an "illegal alien" and the "worst of the worst" following an aggravated assault charge. The crime may be serious, and if convicted, the person should be held accountable. But FSM citizens are not “illegal aliens.”
Under the Compact of Free Association (COFA), we are legally allowed to live, work, and study in the United States. COFA is not a loophole. It’s an international agreement ratified by Congress and reaffirmed multiple times. So, either the White House doesn’t understand this—or they’ve chosen to ignore it. Either way, it’s deeply concerning.
Then came the second blow: a news article reporting that a “Micronesian” was detained at Guantanamo Bay alongside a Marshallese. No crime was specified—just the location and the implication. The problem? It wasn’t true. The Micronesian identity was completely false. The Marshallese individual may have been real, but there was no Micronesian national detained there at all.
Let that sink in:
Our people are being falsely labeled in major media and by top U.S. institutions (The White House).
First, we’re “Guantanamo detainees.”
Now, we’re “Illegal Aliens.”
If you're not paying attention, this just sounds like random noise. But if you're Micronesian, you know what this means: we’re being erased or recast as criminals, outsiders, or threats, despite our legal status, our service in the U.S. military, and our long-standing agreement under COFA.
So now I have to ask—again:
What is the FSM government doing about this?
Where is the official response to this kind of dangerous mislabeling?
Where is the public diplomacy to push back on these narratives?
Our silence cannot be the strategy.
Because what’s next?
A Micronesian student wrongly accused in a school?
A Micronesian veteran stripped of benefits due to “status confusion”?
A COFA migrant profiled at the airport because someone at ICE doesn’t know the law?
These aren’t far-fetched hypotheticals—they’re real risks when the public narrative turns against us.
The FSM government must act decisively:
Demand a correction from the White House and the media outlet behind the Guantanamo misreport.
Issue a strong statement reaffirming COFA rights and condemning public mischaracterization of FSM citizens.
Educate U.S. agencies and media through sustained engagement, not just quiet diplomacy.
Launch a standing task force or appoint a media liaison to respond quickly to future incidents.
We are not “illegals.”
We are not “detainees.”
We are partners, under law and in spirit.
But if we don’t speak up—loudly, clearly, and consistently—then others will keep telling the world who we are. And they’ll get it wrong.