Ban reentry of deportees

In an effort to compel overstaying aliens in the CNMI to choose to voluntarily leave the islands, the Senate has passed legislation seeking to bar reentry for those deported by the Department of Labor and Immigration.

SB 12-2 will amend existing deportation laws to punish aliens who, despite their expired entry permits or improper documents, opt to stay in the Commonwealth.

A permanent ban on their re-entry into the CNMI will serve as deterrent to those who continue to violate the laws, according to the bill’s sponsor Senate Floor Leader Pete P. Reyes.

“The objective is to have these overstaying aliens avoid the consequence of being deported and instead choose voluntary departure,” he said.

Under existing laws, a five-year ban is imposed on deportees for their reentry into the CNMI which the senator maintained is not sufficient punishment for aliens who are violating local immigration laws.

If it becomes a law, SB 12-2 will at least encourage these aliens to surrender to authorities so that they can ask for voluntary departure instead of facing deportation proceedings in the court.

The measure, which now heads to the House of Representatives for voting, came a year after the end of a limited amnesty program for illegal aliens offered by the government as part of its labor and immigration reforms.

Over 2,650 undocumented foreign workers came out from hiding and sought the one-time immunity from prosecution and deportation at DOLI — a number that fell short of initial estimates of 5,000 to 15,000 overstaying aliens on the islands.

Although immigration authorities vowed to intensify manhunt against overstayers when the amnesty offer expired on June 1, 1999, CNMI officials believe that there may still be hundreds of these foreigners who don’t have proper work permits or documents.

Meanwhile, the Senate passed several other legislation during its early evening session last Thursday, including a House bill that will penalize those who allow minors to have access to guns.

Called the Minor Children Firearms Control Act of 2000, HB 12-84 offered by Rep. Rosiky F. Camacho seeks to impose civil and criminal liabilities against violators, with up to one-month imprisonment and a fine of up to $1,000.

The measure, now pending for Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio’s signature, is prompted by mounting concerns on the effects of letting guns and firearms within reach of children, especially at home.

HB 12-162, otherwise known as the Managaha Marine Conservation Act authored by Rep. Heinz S. Hofschneider, is now also before the governor for the second time. The initial bill passed by the previous Legislature was vetoed due to several concerns raised by Mr. Tenorio on its drafting.

Aside from SB 12-2, the upper house also cleared SB 12-4 or the Uniform Comparative Fault Act which will correct the “harsh” all-or-nothing rule of contributory negligence at common law in the CNMI in line with existing rules in courts in other U.S. jurisdictions. It is up for House voting.