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TO DETER ‘BOAT PEOPLE’ US should beef up forces in the Marianas – Harkin
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Posted on Aug 20 1999
The United States will have to augment its forces in the Marianas to thwart attempts by nationals from mainland China to enter illegally into its territory in the region, according to Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa).
He also favored immediate repatriation of illegal Chinese immigrants in an effort to discourage others who may be lured into Guam by human smuggling syndicate operating in PROC.
“We are going to have to beef up our efforts here both with the military and the Coast Guard and with the (Immigration and Naturalization Service) to help detain and move those people back to China as soon as possible,” said the U.S. senator.
“The best way to stop it is as soon as soon as they get here, send them back,” added Harkin. “When the words get out, there is no use even going here.”
Harkin made the statement during his brief visit in the CNMI on Wednesday during which he met with federal and local officials.
Before his arrival here, he made a two-day visit on Guam where he discussed the issue on the influx of undocumented aliens onto that island.
Thousands of Chinese nationals aboard makeshift boats have been held by INS authorities in Agana in recent months following foiled attempts to enter through its territorial waters.
More than 500 undocumented aliens have been sent also to temporary shelters on Tinian since last April as part of the efforts by the Commonwealth to help its neighboring island deal with the immigration crisis.
Last Monday, a boat carrying 151 illegal immigrants was diverted by the Coast Guard to Tinian after four days of monitoring by federal authorities on the vessel which was headed toward Guam.
INS and local officials said they expect to send them back to China immediately, shorter than the two-month stay of the previous group of illegals.
This latest arrival also came nearly two months after the last batch from that group had been repatriated by both CNMI and federal authorities.
