The Northern Marianas can expect more illegal Chinese immigrants to be sheltered temporarily by the island government, as Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio said yesterday he will not oppose future plans to divert to Tinian boats that would be apprehended by US authorities.<\/p>\n
The island municipality of Tinian is presently home to over 300 undocumented Chinese nationals, who were caught while attempting to enter Guam illegally.<\/p>\n
One hundred seventy-five more Chinese on board a fishing vessel were escorted to Tinian by the US Coast Guard Sunday, a week after a trawler loaded with 147 illegals was brought to San Jose Harbor.<\/p>\n
The arrival of the second boat raised the possibility that Northfield, where a tent city is built to house temporarily the undocumented aliens until their return to mainland China, will be kept as a permanent holding station for illegals.<\/p>\n
“We will do anything possible to work closely with the federal government and also to make sure that the health of those people are taken care of,” Tenorio told reporters.<\/p>\n
According to the governor, more ships are expected to sail toward Guam or the Northern Marianas this time, citing information from federal officials.<\/p>\n
Overcrowding at the immigration holding centers in Hagatna has forced the US Immigration and Naturalization Service to divert to Tinian boatloads of Chinese illegals believed to be victims of human smuggling. Many of these illegals pay as much as $5,000 to be able to enter the neighboring island.<\/p>\n
The Chinese illegals have already been declared excluded by the CNMI immigration office and will be sent home soon.<\/p>\n
The second batch of undocumented aliens, currently held at the dock, are being interviewed by local immigration officers and undergoing medical check.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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