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Immigration arrests seven Chinese tourists
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Posted on Mar 06 2006
Immigration agents arrested on Sunday the seven Chinese tourists who refused to leave the CNMI. The seven have expressed intention to seek refugee protection or asylum to avoid alleged persecution in their country.
Immigration agents led by Erwin Flores proceeded to the Taiwan Center Building in As Lito where they served the arrest warrants to twin sisters He Yong and He Jing.
The agents also served the warrants to Wu Ying Lai, 60; his sons Guo Bao Long, 41, and Guo Qiang, 35; Guo Bao Long’s wife, Liu Lan Lan, 21; and his uncle, Liu Changmei, 60.
The seven were taken before Superior Court Associate Judge David Wiseman yesterday for a bail hearing. Wiseman set a $100 cash bail each for the temporary release of the defendants.
Wiseman ordered the defendants to surrender their passports, to not leave Saipan, and to stay away from airport and seaports, among other conditions for their temporary liberty.
The judge directed the respondents to appear in court on March 16 at 1:30pm to explain why they should not be deported from the Commonwealth.
Wiseman told assistant attorney general Ian Catlett that the court understands that the seven respondents have intended to file asylum.
Catlett explained that what he could only say is that there is no deportation order for the respondents, which is one of the requirements before filing for refugee protection in the CNMI.
The Saipan Tribune tried to interview Catlett after the hearing, but the prosecutor said he would not comment.
Immigration Officer Flores stated in court papers that the twin sisters He Yong and He Jing were issued a visitor’s entry permit, which expired on Feb. 25, 2006. Flores said the five others were issued a visitor’s entry permit, which expired on March 4, 2006.
The tourists alleged on Friday that the Chinese police had tortured two of them and have been looking for the three of them for allegedly either practicing or supporting Falun Gong or Falun Dafa. They said they are residents of Tian Jin City.
The press conference was arranged by Yang Jun, editor of a Chinese newspaper Pacific Weekly. He also served as the translator for the tourists.
