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ON ‘BOAT PEOPLE’ Teno: ‘I hope this will be the last one’
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Posted on Aug 26 1999
In an apparent sign that it has taken a toll on the government’s resources, Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio yesterday expressed hope that the 151 illegal Chinese immigrants now staying on Tinian would be the last to be referred to the island by federal authorities.
He said they expect to spend less on this latest group than the previous boatloads comprised of close to 500 undocumented aliens who were given temporary shelter on Tinian prior to their return to mainland China.
The Commonwealth is seeking more than half-a-million dollars in reimbursement from Washington, representing unpaid charges incurred during the two-month operations.
These costs, such as overtime pay for local personnel assigned at holding camps on Tinian and meal provisions for the undocumented aliens, have been drawn from local cash resources originally intended for other needs of the CNMI.
“We have just submitted the billing and we have been assured that they will pay,” Tenorio told reporters after meeting with his Cabinet officials.
Labor and Immigration Sec. Mark Zachares refused to answer reporters’ questions on the status of the illegal immigrants who were sent to Tinian last week after the U.S. Coast Guard diverted their boat believed to be heading toward Guam.
Both local and federal officials said they expect to complete processing of their papers soon so they can immediately send them back to the China.
“The DOLI secretary is communicating with the (Immigration and Naturalization Service) people… and so far I have not been informed as to the date of their repatriation,” said the governor.
Asked if there are other boats his administration anticipates, Tenorio said “I hope not. If I have to accept them, there is an indication that one and few others will be coming in. I hope this will be the last one.”
Aside from DOLI, other crucial agencies such as the Department of Public Safety and the Commonwealth Health Center have been called to assist federal officials in looking after the undocumented aliens on Tinian.
The local government has agreed to host these people in efforts to help its neighboring island deal with the worsening immigration crisis as well as to respond to requests by the White House.
