Seid welcomes NMI move to deport lawbreakers
Palau Senate Floor Leader Alan Seid supports the local government’s move to deport citizens of the Republic of Palau who committed felonies or at least two misdemeanor charges in the CNMI.
Seid said he believes that, in any society, criminals should not be accepted as welcome guests.
“So anyone who commits crime, whether they are Palauans or someone else from any country, should be subject to deportation,” Seid told the Saipan Tribune during a break in Monday’s inauguration ceremony for the 15th Senate on Capitol Hill.
When asked about concerns that the CNMI’s deportation campaign may somehow affect the good relationship between the Commonwealth and the Republic of Palau, the senator quickly replied: “Not at all…not at all. It’s the right thing to do.”
Seid advised his countrymen who are staying in the Commonwealth to be law abiding and “respect the people of the CNMI.”
“Do the best you can to be part of the community and remember that you are a guest,” he said.
There are nearly 2,000 Palauans living in the CNMI.
The CNMI recently filed deportation cases against a Palauan and a Chuukese, both of whom have been convicted of felonies.
It was reported that more than a dozen citizens of Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia will soon be slapped with deportation cases.
Seid and fellow senator Alfonso Diaz joined Palauan President Tommy Remengesau in leading a 10-man delegation that attended the inauguration ceremonies for Gov. Benigno R. Fitial, Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Villagomez, Resident Representative to the U.S. Pedro A. Tenorio and the new set of lawmakers.
“Palau and the CNMI are the best of friends. And we have many Palauans living here. The people of the CNMI are gracious hosts to many Palauans,” Seid said.
As leader of the Palau Senate, Seid said they are on the island to show their support for the CNMI leadership and to further strengthen “the wonderful relationship we have between the people of Palau and the CNMI.”