SODELPA Wants Trump to halt Deportations Immediately

FIJI NEWS

By: Lusia Pio

2/6/20251 min read

SODELPA Leader and Education Minister Aseri Radrodro has demanded that the Fiji government use its diplomatic ties to halt the deportation of Fijian caregivers who are illegally living in the United States.

Radrodro’s call comes amid claims that Fiji maintains strong ties with the U.S., despite his own ministry recently signing an agreement with China to introduce the Chinese language in Fijian schools.

This move is unlikely to be looked at favorably by the Trump Administration, as China remains America’s top strategic competitor on the global stage.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump, whose deportation policies are central to his election promises, has so far ignored calls from world leaders, including Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, to reconsider his stance.

Given Trump’s hardline position on immigration, it is unlikely that Radrodro’s message will even reach him, let alone influence any policy changes.

Many see this as part of SODELPA’s broader strategy to boost Radrodro’s image as a strong leadership figure ahead of the 2026 elections.

However, the effort appears to have had little impact so far, both domestically and internationally.

Compounding the party’s challenges, both the Tourism and Education ministries—under SODELPA’s oversight—have been criticized for underperformance and have recently been embroiled in scandals, further undermining the party’s credibility as it prepares for the next electoral contest.