Previous Story
DOLI accused of illegal search and seizure
|
Posted on Jul 15 1999
A garment firm asked the Superior Court yesterday to declare illegal the Department of Labor and Immigration’s raid that yielded hundreds of textile products and 28 suspected illegal workers last year.
Anner Corp., which operates Suntex, said the department agents’ raid was “wrongful” as it violated the CNMI law against illegal search and seizure as well as the company owners’ Fourth Amendment rights under the US Constitution.
In response to the charges filed in October 1998 by DOLI through the Attorney General’s Office, Suntex denied the government’s allegation that it was harboring illegal aliens.
The raid was conducted at the Golden Dragon Paper Factory in Koblerville, where government agents seized 221 bundles and 13 bags containing 6,565 finished products such as polo shirts and T-shirts that belonged to Suntex.
These items were reportedly found in a trimming room of the factory.
These items, which Suntex wants to retrieve, are now in the custody of DOLI.
DOLI claimed these garments “were used or intended for use in connection with harboring illegal aliens” and “in violation of immigration laws.”
The raid was followed by DOLI’s filing of 28 deportation cases against alleged overstayers and working tourists arrested at the factory.
