Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Attorney General Talauega Eleasalo V. Ale has “revoked” a notice he issued two months ago, seeking to amend current regulations to increase fees for certain immigration services, including the Certificate of Identify fee.

The proposed amendments — which were to become effective Aug. 1st — have one major change that appears to have sparked concerns from traditional leaders. And that is, the elimination of current provisions requiring the signature of a matai or senior member of a family to obtain a permit for a foreigner to enter the territory.

Talauega had stated in a June 17th notice that the Department of Legal Affairs intends to amend provision of Immigration Rules in the Administrative Code — the regulation. But early last week, he announced that the June 17th notice is “revoked”.

“The primary reason for the revocation was to ensure everyone that the proposed rules would not become effective August 1 as provided in the original notice,” Talauega said last Friday morning in response to Samoa News questions.

“We have received many useful comments and several requests for public hearings,” he explained. “Unfortunately, we ran out of time to hold hearings and finalize the rules consistent with requirements of the statute.”

“We plan to issue a new notice with proposed amendments at a later date, and we will afford the opportunity to the public for comments as well as a public hearing, if necessary,” he explained.

Under the now revoked proposal were several amendments to entry permit regulations. One of them is the elimination from the Administrative Code the requirement of approval from a matai (sa’o), senior member of the family, pulenu’u, or even the district governor or his designee for a foreigner to enter the territory.

This prompted concerns from some lawmakers, resulting in three senators calling for a committee hearing to get an explanation from Talauega on this and other proposed changes.

There were also concerns voiced by the community over the proposed increases in group fees for entry permits. For example, a group permit for a group of 10- 20 persons is $200, while a group permit for 101 persons and up to 200 is $500 plus $5.00 for each additional person over 200.

Before the Fono took a three-week mid session recess on July 26th, at least two Senate committee hearings were scheduled, but later canceled. Samoa News cannot confirm why the hearings were canceled. However, some lawmakers are still planning to call a hearing when the Fono reconvenes Aug. 19th.