-Caveat Lector- Clinton Gives Reno Authority to Take Custody of Illegal Aliens in Marianas AP 19-APR-99 HONOLULU (AP) -- President Clinton on Saturday gave Attorney General Janet Reno authority to maintain custody of illegal aliens found in boats off the Northern Mariana Islands, easing worries in Guam that they would seek asylum there. Several hundred illegal aliens from China have been apprehended in recent months in waters off Guam, drawing a complaint that they would seek asylum in U.S. territories. But the president's directive would allow captured illegal aliens to be held in the Northern Marianas, which is outside the U.S. immigration area and where asylum would not be available, according to Leland Bettis, an aide to Guam Gov. Carl Gutierrez. The president's memo specifically mentioned a "stateless vessel" located west of the Northern Marianas and identified by U.S. authorities on or about April 12. That vessel apparently has since moved to Tinian, a Northern Mariana island near Saipan, Bettis said. Officials on nearby Guam believe the vessel departed from China with nationals who paid organized crime lords in an effort to gain American citizenship. Several such vessels have grounded off Guam in recent months. The president's action was prompted by a letter sent Tuesday by Gutierrez, outlining "a crisis triggered by an escalating mass influx of aliens from the People's Republic of China." The governor asked for federal assistance in dealing with the problem. Since January, 480 illegal Chinese immigrants have been apprehended in waters off Guam, he said. Last week, a vessel grounded on a reef off Guam and authorities arrested about 70 Chinese nationals on shore. On Friday, 105 Chinese aliens arrived on a boat, Bettis said. At present, more than 350 illegal aliens are housed in Guam's already overcrowded prison, comprising nearly 50 percent of the prison population, Gutierrez said. Gutierrez said he won't release the illegal aliens into the community because they are of unknown character and no information is known about their background. He said he was also worried that the aliens would be manipulated by organized crime, and that tuberculosis and hepatitis B cases have been found among them. Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands are U.S. territories located about 3,700 miles southwest of Honolulu. Copyright 1999& The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ================================= Robert F. Tatman [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Remove "nospam" from the address to reply. NOTICE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml POSTING THIS MESSAGE TO THE INTERNET DOES NOT IMPLY PERMISSION TO SEND UNSOLICITED COMMERCIAL E-MAIL (SPAM) TO THIS OR ANY OTHER INTERNET ADDRESS. RECEIPT OF SPAM WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE NOTIFICATION OF THE SENDER'S ISP. ____________________________________________________________________ Get your own FREE, personal Netscape WebMail account today at http://webmail.netscape.com. DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
