At least 135 workers up for deportation

The Attorney General’s Office is now reviewing technicalities and other pertinent issues on how it could tap into the trust fund of the garment workers’ class action suit in preparation for the mandatory deportation of apparel workers who are illegally staying in the CNMI.

In a news briefing Friday, attorney general Pam Brown disclosed that a crackdown on garment workers who are illegally staying in the CNMI would begin by July 15, in efforts to rid the Commonwealth of individuals reportedly engaging in illegal activities.

Brown said that, as part of the settlement agreement, a trust fund was set up and an estimated $400,000 was set aside for the repatriation of garment workers.

Brown said workers involved in the class suit were given at least six months to find jobs after the settlement ruling. However, a fraction of the entire number remains unemployed and are reportedly illegally staying on Saipan.

“The Office of the Attorney General is preparing to institute deportation proceedings against all members of the garment class action suit who have failed to depart the CNMI or otherwise obtain legal status to remain. The CNMI Labor Department has provided numerous opportunities for these individuals to obtain valid status, and those who have failed to do so are now subject to deportation proceedings,” Brown said during the media briefing.

Once deported, Brown said these individuals would be banned from entering the Commonwealth for the rest of their lives.

To avoid this, the AGO is inviting these persons to voluntarily come forward for repatriation. Brown said the AGO is urging individuals to voluntarily present themselves to the Enforcement Section of the Division of Immigration in San Antonio and the AG may be willing to consider a voluntary departure for people who would come forward not later than July 15, 2004.

“We are going to do a thorough search of these individuals. We are focusing all our resources to search for them. All preparations are now being undertaken, including prison facilities where arrested individuals would be temporarily housed after their arrest,” Brown pointed out.

According to early estimates, there are about 135 unaccounted garment workers on Saipan who were part of the class action suit. The immigration department is double-checking screening of all the names involved and those who have already departed Saipan.

Brown said the number would be ferreted out and there might be between 20 to 50 more garment workers who are illegally staying on Saipan. These individuals would be hunted down once the July 15 deadline is over.

“Once we start our street sweeps, we would proceed to deportation immediately. We are giving them up to July 15 for mandatory departure; after that, it would be deportation,” Brown warned.

She added that most of these individuals have not availed of the relief afforded by the Labor Department when it opened the workers’ pool after the class suit. The situations of these individuals remain unknown but reports claimed that they are into “illegal activities.”

Brown also said that seeking refuge in the U.N. Treaty for Refugee is still questionable since these individuals can only apply after deportation orders are handed down. “This is a different ball game,” he said.

The Labor Department appealed to the community for assistance as enforcement activity is stepped up. “Please call the 664-2341 or 664-2366 for information,” said Brown.

She added that non-speaking English individuals could call the Federal Ombudsman Office at 322-8020 for translators.