In a move that could lead to increased outmigration to Guam, Hawaii and other parts of the U.S., a resolution before the Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia calls for ending that country’s treaty with the U.S.

The termination of the Compact of Free Association agreement would happen no later than two years from now, the Pacific Daily News reports.

COFA allows citizens in the Federated States, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and Palau visa-free travel to live and work in the U.S. and its territories.

As the PDN reports, “Guam’s delegation to this week’s Association of Pacific Island Legislatures meeting in Kosrae state, in the FSM, found out about the efforts by some elected congressional officials of the FSM to end the Compact sooner than the 2023 date to renegotiate the agreement.”

Read more about Micronesian immigration in Civil Beat’s recent series.

In other COFA nation news, Radio New Zealand reports, “The election results in the Marshall Islands have caused a big upset for the government of president Christopher Loeak, with half his cabinet voted out of office.”

Among those losing their seats is the well-traveled and outspoken foreign minister, Tony de Brum, who is currently in Paris for climate change negotiations.

Correspondent Giff Johnson says the results show that there is a desire for change: “Generally people aren’t happy, economic issues, a lack of job opportunities, the health situation here with the hospital.”

Finally, the Asian Development Bank says it has approved loans totaling $25 million for a submarine cable project to help build a fiber-optic cable system linking Palau to a Internet cable hub in Guam. 

“The North Pacific Regional Connectivity Investment Project will deliver affordable, accessible internet infrastructure allowing for improved delivery of government, health, and education services,” said ADB official Sibesh Bhattacharya in a press release.