Hosting illegal aliens puts pressure on local coffers • NATO’s bombing of Chinese embassy in Belgrade delays repatriation

The increasing cost of providing temporary shelter to some 500 illegal Chinese immigrants on Tinian continues to drain local resources as their fate remains uncertain nearly a month after the first boatload arrived on the island.

Likewise, a scheduled repatriation of the first batch of undocumented aliens has been called off at the last minute on the heels of heightening tension between the United States and China as a result of the air strike in Yugoslavia.

According to a source, Chinese officials have refused to cooperate with US authorities on the plan to send home about 141 of the illegals staying at the Northfield military base on Tinian.

The refusal apparently stemmed from Beijing’s indignation over the bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade that killed three people during one of NATO’s air raids in strife-torn Yugoslavia.

“We were informed that Chinese Embassy officials in Washington have ignored request for talks by the US Department of Justice on the Tinian situation because of the bombing,” the source said.

The information could not be independently confirmed. Several lawmakers on Wednesday flew hastily to Tinian to assess the conditions of about 480 Chinese nationals in two camps set up by federal authorities on the island.

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio also denied receiving information that there will be a delay in the repatriation, but expressed concern over the news.

“The federal government is looking forward to early repatriation of these illegal aliens. We have to provide the resources and manpower and we were reassured that they will reimburse (the cost),” the local chief executive told reporters.

So far, four boats carrying these undocumented aliens have been diverted by US Coast Guard to Tinian after they intercepted them in international waters while heading to Guam.

The growing number of illegals, believed to be victims of human smuggling, has worried local officials because of potential health and security risks their presence may pose to the community.

Apparently concerned over uncertain fate of the undocumented aliens, the CNMI Legislature has tightened watch on the immigration crisis to avoid serious problems, particularly its impact on local resources.

To address the issue, Northern Marianas and Guam legislators are expected to discuss today in Agana a possible joint position on the continuous stream of illegal immigrants from China into their islands.

In an interview, Rep. Karl T. Reyes, chair of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, said the meeting is intended to call Washington’s attention on the plight of both islands, including depleting resources to deal with the problems.

Costs to go up: Although Commonwealth officials have yet to estimate the total cost of hosting these illegals, Reyes said it could run into millions of dollars, especially when Washington is still undecided on the date as to when these people will leave Tinian.

“It could be more than $1 million because they have been there for more than a month now,” he said in an interview. The representative was among a dozen of House members who toured the Northfield camp two days ago.

Reyes underscored assistance being provided by local government agencies to the US Immigration and Naturalization Services in the area, saying this may result to a potential budget shortfall of each department for the current fiscal year.

More than 30 police officers have been deployed to the “tent city”, while dozens other local immigration agents as well as public health staff are routinely sent there to assist federal authorities.

These will result to overtime pay to government employees, especially the police, according to Reyes. “We might be expecting this to be a burden, but I want to find out whether they will ask the administration for additional funds.”

He stressed, however, the Department of Labor and Immigration Sec. Mark Zachares is on top of the situation and all the CNMI agencies are working together to be able to address the problems at the shortest time possible and at the least expenses.

“This is one very good showcase to prove that we can handle our immigration during emergency cases,” Reyes said. “This is very important to our image to the federal government.”