Governor calms worries on illegals

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio yesterday allayed fears of Tinian residents over potential health and security risks the hosting of illegal Chinese nationals may pose to the community, saying precautions have been put in place to protect the island municipality.

One hundred forty-seven Chinese are temporarily held in the fenced compound of the San Jose Harbor on Tinian pending processing of their deportation to mainland China, and their presence have worried some residents.

“I will assure the people over there that all measures have been taken to protect the community,” the governor said in an interview. “I don’t think there will be health hazards or some security problem.”

According to Tenorio, doctors and nurses are on standby to look after the Chinese nationals, while police and immigration personnel are on guard to thwart possible trouble.

The boat carrying the illegal immigrants pulled in Saturday afternoon after it was intercepted last week by the US Coast Guard in the international waters as the vessel headed toward Guam.

The illegal aliens, including 10 women, will be held at the port until a temporary settlement is set up at the Northfield, a former US military airbase. They are expected to be sent back to China in one to three weeks.

Sources from Tinian said the Chinese nationals are sheltered in tents and have been provided with cots, blankets and food. Portable toilets were also put up in the compound.

“They are being kept comfortably. They are doing fine,” one source said on condition of anonymity.

Local officials explained the boat was allowed to divert to the Northern Marianas to prevent the illegal aliens from seeking asylum in Guam. While CNMI is a US territory like the neighboring island, the Commonwealth controls its own immigration and cannot grant asylum.

“When these Chinese entered the Northern Marianas waters, technically they are considered illegals because they did not have proper documents. Under CNMI laws, they are subject to deportation,” said an official, who declined to be identified.

Reports say President Bill Clinton has issued a directive giving the US Attorney General authority to take custody of the captured Chinese. It also gave go signal to the Immigration and Naturalization Service in Guam to divert the vessel to Tinian.

Over the last weeks, Guam has been swamped will Chinese illegals that have strained its infrastructure and coffers. At present, Hagatna is home to over 500 illegal aliens, who were believed to have paid between $5,000 to $8,000 in the hope of gaining American citizenship in that US territory.

Meanwhile, the governor assured taxpayers that all the expenses that the CNMI government will spend for accommodating the illegals will be reimbursed by the federal government.

“If there is a need to help people, of course, we will spend money to assist them. But on this one, the feds will reimburse our expenses,” he said.