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US Coast Guard says illegal immigration on the rise
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Posted on May 10 1999
The number of illegal migrants intercepted in the waters off Guam has increased. Federal and local authorities have taken more than 800 illegal Asian migrants into custody on and in the vicinity of the US territory of Guam since mid-March 1999. Authorities have interdicted three of those vessels totaling over 300 people in the last two weeks.
The concern over this influx of illegal migrants is both humanitarian and law enforcement issue. Majority of these migrants have made the transit from mainland China on small, ill-equipped fishing vessels. Due to the duration of the voyage and the large number of people crammed onto the vessels, conditions are both unsafe and unsanitary.
As the number of migrant vessels increases and Pacific typhoons intensifies, the formula for tragedy multiplies. The US has been in contact with the government of the People’s Republic of China to attempt to stop the illegal movement of migrants.
The Coast Guard has diverted additional vessels and aircraft to patrol the waters off Guam. On the island itself, available facilities are filled beyond capacity. Recently interdicted migrants have been taken to a temporary camp on Tinian in the nearby US Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, where they will remain until arrangements can be made to repatriate them.
To assist with repatriating migrants, the Immigration and Naturalization Service and the US Public Health Service have transferred numerous officers, interpreters and medical personnel to assist with processing the migrants.
The Department of Defense and the governments of Guam and CNMI have given extensive support, such cots, tents and generators, to provide suitable lodging for these migrants. The temporary holding facilities on Tinian are located in a land leased from the CNMI by DOD. The US Marshal Service will manage the disposition of the seized vessels.
An interagency advisory group coordinating the effort is comprised of the Departments of State, Defense, Justice and Interior, as well as the National Security Council, Immigration and Naturalization Service, the White House and the US coast Guard.
