Ads by Google Ads by Google

Bill prohibits members of Immigration Board from acting as sponsors

Faipule, some with masks

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A measure by the Lemanu and Talauega administration was introduced in the Fono last week prohibiting a member of the Immigration Board from acting as a sponsor and clarifies the terms of Board members. The new bill would amend the Section 41.0203 of the American Samoa Code Annotated (A.S.C.A).

The amendments state that: (b) No member of the Immigration Board of American Samoa may sponsor an alien; (1) Provided, any person who is appointed to the Board while they are the sponsor of an alien must end their sponsorship within 60 days of their appointment; (3) Any members of the Board who becomes the sponsor of an alien or who is still a sponsor of an alien more than 60 days after their appointment shall be removed from the Board by the Governor.”

The bill has been sent to the House Immigration Committee for review.

Some faipule told Samoa News that board members serving as sponsors has been an ongoing problem with the Immigration Board for many years now.  One faipule believes that this practice must stop and the bill from the Administration will address this problem.

(In the Senate, the bill has been discussed in committee in which a point has been made that it doesn’t completely cut off such sponsorship, as it could be transferred to the spouse or their children.)