Brown wants to work with safe haven program beyond BB term

Attorney General Pamela S. Brown has expressed desire to continue working under the anti-human trafficking program that her office is trying to establish in the Commonwealth.

While she denied an accusation that she was supporting the project in exchange for a possible job with a potential safe haven organization, Brown said she was willing to remain involved with the project beyond the Babauta administration.

“I would be honored to work in this project in any capacity,” Brown said when asked whether she would continue to work in the project after the Fitial administration comes in.

“I don’t know if that’s going to happen, but that’s not what’s driving this,” she was quick to add.

Brown noted that the project began long before the results of the Nov. 5, 2005 elections became known, or before there was an idea that she would no longer be the attorney general.

A September 2003 press release shows that human trafficking was one of the issues covered by a memorandum of agreement that Gov. Juan N. Babauta signed with the U.S. Department of the Interior two years ago.

The MOA provides for cooperation between the federal government and the CNMI on matters relating to immigration and the prevention of human trafficking.

Brown also maintained that she was supporting the project because she cared about it.

“I see it as a benefit to the CNMI. I see it as a way to prove to the critics that we have a valuable role to play globally. Despite the fact that we look like all we ever do is want to bring in workers to serve our needs, we’re willing to also take care of the needs of unfortunate victims and to step up as a mature entity,” she said.

The AGO is currently promulgating regulations to make the CNMI a safe haven for international victims of human trafficking and forced prostitution, particularly ethnic Vietnamese living in Cambodia.

“The Attorney General finds that the proximity of the CNMI to Southeast Asia and its plenary power over immigration provides a useful tool in fighting the global problem of human trafficking and forced labor,” the AGO states in a public notice.

“This regulation is intended to allow approved non-profit charitable corporations to establish a safe, healthy environment for victims while carefully continuing to monitor the entry of aliens into the Commonwealth,” the agency added.

According to the proposed regulations, the Safe Haven Entry Permit will be limited to children aged 8 to 16, who will be sponsored by a non-profit entity dedicated to rescuing victims of human trafficking and sexual slavery.

Initial permits would be issued for a 90-day period, but they may be renewed indefinitely at the attorney general’s discretion. A holder of such permit may eventually transfer to foreign student immigration status if he or she meets requirements.

The AGO will accept public comments on the proposed regulations until Dec. 25.