Third boat with illegal Chinese immigrants diverted to Tinian

A third boat, carrying approximately 100 illegal Chinese immigrants, was intercepted by the US Coast Guard and is expected to arrive on Tinian today amid growing security concerns from Commonwealth officials.

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio yesterday said he was informed by Labor and Immigration Secretary Mark D. Zachares that another boat will pull in this morning at the San Jose Harbor, few days after a boatload of undocumented Chinese was diverted to the island municipality.

The governor did not provide other details regarding arrest of the Chinese.

The new batch of illegals would bring to close to 500 the number of Chinese nationals that will be temporarily sheltered by the Northern Marianas. There are over 300 illegal aliens housed in the “tent city” hastily set up by American troops at the Northfield, a former US military airbase.

The streams of undocumented Chinese nationals, believed to be victims of human smuggling, has worried CNMI officials over potential security problems that may arise from the presence of illegals.

Lack of assurance from representatives of the US Immigration and Naturalization Service as to when repatriation will begin and how long will the island government play host to Chinese nationals underpin CNMI’s security concerns.

With the arrival of additional Chinese nationals, Tenorio said he will have to assess the situation in order to determine whether Tinian could still accommodate illegals who will be brought to the “tent city”.

“If it’s not going to take long, we can handle the situation,” the governor said. “But again that depends on the cooperation that we get from the feds in ensuring that we have the proper security for the area.”

The other day Tenorio, along with local officials, met with INS representatives to seek stronger cooperation in handling the undocumented aliens, particularly in providing security for the residents of the island municipality.

The local government has requested the INS to beef up security in the temporary holding station to prevent any untoward incident or possible escape if illegal aliens that could complicate local immigration problems confronting the Commonwealth.

Specifically, CNMI want to reinforce fencing around the “tent city” and increase personnel guarding the area.

“I made it very clear to INS people that we need fencing…not only to protect the people inside but also the community,” he said, “We are not worried about the money but the safety of the people.”

However, Tenorio ruled out the possibility of asking US troops to guard the holding station since INS has promised to bring in more than 50 of its officers to augment security detailed at Northfield.

He added though DOLI personnel and officers from the Department of Public Safety are helping the US immigration in securing the area.

Because of fair weather condition, officials are expecting more Chinese nationals, seeking for better jobs and greener pastures, to enter Guam illegally.

Describing the influx of illegal immigrants in crisis proportion, the neighboring island has sought the intervention of Washington to help them cope with the situation.

Incursions by several boats in the past weeks have crowded Hagatna’s immigration detention centers, which are now home to over 500 Chinese illegals.