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Manhunt on for 159 ex-workers
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Posted on Jul 15 2004
Beginning today, immigration officers and operatives of the Attorney General’s Investigative Unit will conduct a manhunt for some 159 former garment workers who remain unlawfully in the CNMI after the settlement of their class action lawsuit at the U.S. District Court.
None of these alien workers voluntarily surrendered to the Immigration Division until yesterday—the deadline set by the Attorney General’s Office for these workers to avail of the chance to voluntarily leave the CNMI. Once an alien is deported, he may no longer return to the islands.
Attorney general Pamela Brown disclosed these yesterday, saying that the government is intensifying its enforcement of the CNMI’s immigration laws.
“We’re putting a lot of resources on this,” Brown said.
The attorney general said she would not extend the July 15 deadline. She had given the workers almost two weeks to voluntarily surrender.
Although the initial count released by the AGO as to deportable members of the garment class action suit was 440, she said an extensive double check reduced the actual number to only 159. She said some of the workers have gained lawful immigration status.
The 159 workers face arrest and deportation proceedings in court, warned Brown, who said that illegal aliens cost the government assets and revenues that are utilized to apprehend and deport them. She stressed, however, that the workers would be accorded due process.
Brown also emphasized that she has the discretion whether or not to grant reprieve to workers who would still voluntarily turn themselves in to authorities instead of being arrested.
“If workers come forward and are not apprehended, we would consider it [allowing them voluntary departure],” she said.
The 159 aliens failed to obtain valid immigration status despite numerous opportunities provided them by the Labor Department, the AGO said.
