What are the Freely Associated States of the Pacific?

Summary

Families from the Freely Associated States (FAS) of the Pacific—the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau—travel freely and decide to settle in different islands of the Pacific and the continental United States for a variety of reasons. The Compacts of Free Association are bilateral agreements between the United States and these Pacific Island nations that allow for citizens to travel and seek work, education, and other services.

This infographic provides an overview of the Compacts of Free Association, including the historical and current social and political context necessary to understand some of the reasons for the growing FAS student population in the United States. The infographic includes maps of each island nation and information about FAS citizens that migrate to the continental United States, Hawai'i, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands. The infographic also includes ideas for culturally responsive practices for educators who are getting to know, and want to better support, the Pacific Islander students in their schools.

Acknowledgements

We are grateful for the community members, organizations, and REL Pacific project team based across the Pacific region and the continental United States who provided input and feedback in the development of this infographic.

• Ms. Shaila Abdullah, creative director and owner, My House of Design
• Ms. Darienne Dey, research associate, REL Pacific
• Mr. Dominic Fanasog, professional development coordinator, Yap Department of Education
• Dr. Theresa Koroivulaono, education consultant, emmanED
• Ms. Emeliana J. Musrasrik-Carl, director of court administration, Federated States of Micronesia Supreme Court
• Dr. Emerson Odango, director, Region 18 Comprehensive Center
• Ms. Natasha Saelua, researcher, REL Pacific
• Ms. Elsei Tellei, artist, Tiuladokow Artwork
• Ms. Magaria Tellei, chief of curriculum and instructional materials development, Palau Ministry of Education
• Dr. Melly Wilson, director, Region 19 Comprehensive Center

• Dr. Katie Gao, REL Pacific (kgao@mcrel.org)

References Used in the Creation of the Infographic

Compact of Free Association Act of 1985, Pub. L. 99–239, 99 Stat. 1770 (1986). https://uscode.house.gov/statutes/pl/99/239.pdf

Compact of Free Association Act of 1986, Pub. L. 99–658, 100 Stat. 3672 (1994). https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/uploads/Palau_ROP_COFA.pdf

Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2003, 117 Stat. 2720 (2003). https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-108publ188/html/PLAW-108publ188.htm

Federated States of Micronesia Office of Statistics, Budget, Overseas Development Assistance and Compact Management (SBOC). (2010). Summary analysis of key indicators from the FSM census of population and housing. https://www.fsmstatistics.fm/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/2010-Summary-Analysis-Key-Indicators.pdf

Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA). (2017, Aug). Immigrant Students' Rights to Attend Public Schools. http://www.idra.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/School-Opening-Alert-2017-Aug-IDRA.pdf

Marshallese Education Initiative (MEI). (2021). Marshallese community in Arkansas. https://www.mei.ngo/marshallese-in-arkansas

Mayfield, V. M., & Garrison-Wade, D. (2015). Culturally Responsive Practices as Whole School Reform. Journal of Instructional Pedagogies, 16(1), 1–17. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1069396

Palau Office of Planning and Statistics. (2015). 2015 Census of Population Housing and Agriculture for the Republic of Palau. Government of the Republic of Palau. https://www.palaugov.pw/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/2015-Census-of-Population-Housing-Agriculture-.pdf

Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) Economic Policy, Planning, and Statistics Office (EPPSO). (2011). The RMI 2011 Census of Population and Housing Summary and Highlights Only. Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/migrated/oia/reports/upload/ RMI-2011-Census-Summary-Report-on-Population-and-Housing.pdf

Siskin, A. (2016, Dec 12). Noncitizen eligibility for federal public assistance: Policy overview. https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL33809.pdf

Thomas, E. (2019). Compacts of Free Association in FSM, RMI, and Palau: Implications for the 2023–2024 Renewal Negotiations. https://icaad.ngo/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/COFA-Policy-Brief-2019.pdf

U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). (2020, Jun 15). Compacts of Free Association: Populations in U.S. Areas Have Grown, with Varying Reported Effects. https://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-20-491