US govt arranges parole for woman suing CBP officers

In order to enter the CNMI for depositions, the U.S. government has arranged a supervised parole for Yu Min Zhao, a Chinese teacher who is suing eight U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers.

Assistant U.S. attorney Jessica F. Cruz has informed the U.S. District Court for the NMI that, as counsel for CBP officer Dennis Jacobs, she secured approval from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for Zhao and her husband, Jian Li, to enter the Commonwealth via supervised parole.

Cruz and Zhao’s attorney, Samuel I. Mok, have agreed that Mok will supervise the couple.

Cruz said an official parole will shortly be issued to Zhao and Li.

Cruz said the supervised parole will allow Zhao and Li to enter Saipan on Jan. 12, 2015, and requires them to depart on Jan. 16, 2015.

The parties agreed that Li’s deposition will be done on Jan. 14, 2015. Zhao’s deposition will be held the following day.

Deposition refers to the taking of testimony of a witness outside of court.

Cruz said the U.S. government has agreed to make the arrangements for and cover the costs of Li’s roundtrip airfare and lodging on Saipan. Li, however, is responsible for all other travel costs he incurs.

The prosecutor said Zhao is responsible for her own costs, including travel and lodging.

Mok has agreed to assume responsibility for the couple for the duration of their stay on Saipan. Mok has agreed to meet the couple at the airport, supervise them, ensure that they arrive at their depositions on time, and that they depart the island on Jan. 16, 2015.

Mok has also agreed to notify the court immediately if Zhao or Li fails to appear at their deposition, is no longer in his custody, or does depart the island on Jan. 16.

The parties have agreed to request the court to issue an order appointing Mok as the custodian for the couple from Jan. 12 to 16, 2015. U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona has granted the parties’ request.

Manglona also approved the parties’ other requests for Mok to ensure that the couple will arrive at their scheduled depositions on time and will ensure that they depart the island on Jan. 16.

Zhao is suing Jacobs and seven other unnamed CBP officers for allegedly denying her entry to Saipan on suspicion that she was pregnant. She claims she was handcuffed, her face slammed against the wall, and placed in isolation for 22 hours.

Zhao alleged that her husband, Li, was questioned first that same day by a CBP officer and was admitted under the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program without incident.

Mok stated in the complaint that Zhao, a school teacher in China, wanted to visit Saipan with her husband, Li, as a tourist for one week of vacation.

Mok said the incident happened on Oct. 18, 2013, at 3:10am, soon after the couple arrived at the Francisco C. Ada International Airport from Beijing via a China Eastern Airlines charter flight.