Court stops deportation of asylum seekers

U.S. District Court Judge Alex R. Munson blocked yesterday deportation from the CNMI of some foreigners seeking asylum here with an order to maintain status quo on the pending litigation, according to the counsel representing the asylum-seekers.

Lawyer Bruce Lee Jorgensen said his clients Juyel Ahmed, Rui Liang and Liao Da Nian as well as those others he represents for their asylum petition cannot be deported pending resolution of their court cases.

“Judge Munson expressly ruled that maintenance of the status quo means that Mr. Ahmed may not be deported from the CNMI next week,” he said in his letter to acting Attorney General Herb D. Soll.

Mr. Jorgensen has filed lawsuits in the federal court against the CNMI and U.S. governments in connection with the asylum application of the three and other foreigners residing on the island, who have hired his services

They are seeking court injunction to compel U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service officials to accept and process their asylum application as well as to restrain local and federal authorities from arresting, imprisoning and/or deporting the asylum seekers.

Mr. Jorgensen earlier had succeeded in freeing from a CNMI detention Mr. Rui and Mr. Liao, whose applications are still pending as the federal court has yet to rule on their case.

The two Chinese nationals and Mr. Ahmed, from Bangladesh, are facing deportation for overstaying. Superior Court Associate Judge Timothy H. Bellas on Wednesday, ruling on Mr. Ahmed’s case, said that the CNMI should not be restrained from deporting an alien who should be expelled under the law despite his asylum petition.

Both federal and local officials have said the CNMI can not grant asylum to foreign nationals as its immigration laws do not allow such a program.

Meanwhile, House Speaker Benigno R. Fitial warned Mr. Jorgensen against “libelous” statements stemming from his move to investigate the lawyer for alleged illegal practice in the CNMI courts.

In a letter to the attorney, Mr. Fitial said he took offense to his statement given to James E. Hollman in court documents, describing the probe he initiated as a “by-product of multi-faceted loyalties, to… Emperor Willie..”

“Unless you can produce credible evidence to substitute your statement. I strongly advise henceforth that you keep any such libelous notions to yourself, or risk defending yourself before the court,” the Speaker said. (BS)