Senator Alo
wants review of current definition of a U.S. national
by Fili Sagapolutele
Samoa News Correspondent
Sen. Alo Dr.
Paul Stevenson has called for the Fono's legal team to review
the current definition of a U.S. national to perhaps re-define
it, in light of the new trend the territory faces with temporary
workers coming here for a certain period of time.
Alo made the
request yesterday after lawmakers were provided copies of the
latest round of people who have been approved to enter the territory
under the Guest Worker Permit law.
The law went
into effect last year to address the shortage of workers at the
two canneries. The law also allows the proposed call centers
to recruit from Samoa if a workforce cannot be found in the territory.
The law requires
the Attorney General's Office to provide a list of the foreigners
and their local host to the governor for approval. That list
is then provided to the Fono.
Alo told senators
that the latest list of approved workers, totaling 103 (53 for
StarKist Samoa and 50 for COS Samoa Packing), is worrisome because
of the status of these individuals being "temporary workers."
"Of concern
is these temporary workers, coming here and marrying someone
locally and the couple giving birth to a child, who is then considered
a U.S. National," he said. "Where do we draw the line
...when it comes to the U.S. national status?"
Alo said these
guest workers do not fall under the definition of "resident."
He said there are already cases of foreigners coming here as
temporary workers and the women end up giving birth here making
their children U.S. nationals.
He said the Senate
should take the initiative in reviewing local immigration law
to see where it could be amended in relation to temporary workers.
Fono sources
say certain Fono legal counsels have already started reviewing
local immigration laws and will make necessary recommendations
to the Fono leadership of possible amendments.
Also yesterday,
Alo called on Senate President Lolo M. Moliga for the Senate
legal team to review to review current federal law dealing with
U.S. Nationals.
"We need
to review the definition of U.S. national and re-define it in
light of the new situation American Samoa faces with these temporary
workers coming into the territory," said Alo.
He said such
a review should be completed and presented to senators when the
Fono convenes in July for the 4th regular session. "This
is a serious issue for me and my constituents," he told
senators.
There has been
a long growing public concern of children born in American Samoa
to non-U.S. nationals and non-U.S. citizens especially with the
many foreigners coming into the territory.
Alo said these
temporary workers as well as those illegally in the territory,
make this issue an urgent matter for the Fono to carry out a
review of the U.S. Nationality status as soon as possible.
Reach the
reporter at fili@samoanews.com.
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