Tinian’s North Field turns into Tent City

The US Immigration and Naturalization Service is considering keeping the “tent city” on Tinian for future Chinese nationals who will be caught entering Guam without proper documents, as it noted a growing trend in incursions by illegal immigrants into the neighboring island.

While INS has yet to decide what to do with the temporary holding area in the Northfield in the island municipality once the Chinese illegals are deported, the plan to maintain it is “under consideration,” according to Don Mueller of the public affairs office of the immigration office in Washington.

Immigration officers in Guam have been grappling with the influx of illegal immigrants from mainland China in recent weeks and has find it difficult to find temporary shelter for these Chinese nationals while their papers are being processed.

Over 500 Chinese illegals are housed in Hagatna’s Division of Corrections, and the government says hosting them has been straining the island’s coffers and infrastructure.

Last week a boat that carried 147 undocumented Chinese nationals was blocked by the US Coast Guard and diverted to Tinian, where they will be temporarily confined until deportation.

“It’s a little early to say what to do with the facility,” Mueller said in a phone interview. “But it is a plan that is under consideration,” he added, referring to moves to make the holding area on Tinian a permanent station for processing of undocumented aliens.

According to Mueller, the illegal entry of Chinese nationals, believed to be victims of human smuggling, has “certainly increased”, a situation that is under tight watch by the US immigration.

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio said he has not received fresh requests from Washington asking the Commonwealth to receive ships that will be diverted to the Northern Marianas since CNMI’s was asked to host temporarily the Chinese illegals interdicted last week.

But the island leader said he remained committed to help federal agencies in dealing with the increasing problem on illegal immigrants.

“My commitment stands…and we will do whatever is humanly possible to assist them,” Tenorio.

Due to proximity, Guam has become a popular destination among impoverished nationals from the People’s Republic of China who have flooded the US territory for better jobs and greener pastures.

Most of them pay as much as $5,000 each to be able to enter Guam.