[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 54 (Tuesday, April 20, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H2143-H2144]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      CHINESE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Bass). Under the Speaker's announced 
policy of January 19, 1999, the gentleman from Guam (Mr. Underwood) is 
recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, last Tuesday, I came to the floor to 
speak about the escalating rush of illegal immigrants coming from the 
People's Republic of China directly into Guam. Just within the past 
week, another 257 more illegal immigrants coming from the People's 
Republic were apprehended at sea and brought to shore.
  Last Thursday, on April 15, 152 Chinese nationals suspected of trying 
to enter Guam were interdicted by the U.S. Coast Guard. Fortunately, as 
a result of the efforts of my office, the governor's office, and I 
think a sensible policy pursued by the White House, and the cooperation 
of the government of the Northern Marianas, this vessel, instead of 
being taken to Guam, was taken to the Northern Marianas, where it was 
assumed because of the differing laws which are applicable to the 
Commonwealth, these nationals of the People's Republic of China will be 
more easily repatriated back to China.
  Immediately after that vessel was detained, another vessel carrying 
105 nationals from the People's Republic of China docked at Apra Harbor 
on Guam. This was yet the largest single apprehension on Guam, with 34 
women and at least 6 juveniles.
  According to the INS, the number of apprehended illegal immigrants 
from the People's Republic caught on Guam since January this year is 
now up to 585. As I have informed the House before and people of this 
country, these immigrants are coming directly from Fukien Province, are 
paying crime syndicates anywhere from $10,000 to $30,000 to ship them 
to the United States. Guam being the closest American territory, these 
criminal organizations then funnel them right into our island, and we 
are now experiencing boat landings nearly every 2 to 4 days.
  Upon arrival, these people who are being sent to Guam by criminal 
organizations are eventually apprehended by primarily local officials, 
turned over to Federal officials, and they are expected to apply for 
some form of asylum.
  Mr. Speaker, what we see here is a clear exploitation of INA, the 
Immigration and Naturalization Act, as it is applicable to Guam, by 
Chinese crime syndicates. Chinese nationals who succeed in finding 
employment inside the United States, who have come to this dream, are 
actually turned into indentured servants with no legal papers and 
immense debts to pay. They continue to pay off these Chinese crime 
syndicates, even after they are in the United States, for well over a 
decade. This is a criminal activity which must end.
  Now we have this humanitarian crisis on the high seas. It takes 
approximately anywhere from 10 to 15 days on these decrepit vessels, 
which are expected to simply take a one-way trip from Fukien Province 
in China.
  This has created a number of crises on Guam. It has created a 
resource crisis. The INS does not have any funds to attend to these, so 
it has been left up to the government of Guam to feed them, house them, 
and clothe them. Now over 400 Chinese nationals are currently being 
housed in a Guam facility with a capacity of 150 at a cost of 
approximately $97 per immigrant per day.
  The government of Guam estimates that the total expense for 
apprehending, staffing, housing, and detaining these illegal immigrants 
from the People's Republic has cost the people of Guam nearly $2.5 
million. This is a Federal responsibility. No State in the Union would 
put up with this.
  There is also a potential environmental crisis as these boats 
deliberately run aground on our reefs. There is also a potential health 
crisis. In one shipment of these illegal immigrants, well over half of 
the illegal immigrants were tested positive for TB.
  Over the past few days, I have had several meetings, including 
officials at the Department of Justice, officials in the National 
Security Council and the White House, and I am happy to report that 
they have taken some action on this. But the Federal Government needs 
to take clearly more responsibility over this.
  It is very interesting to note that, as widely reported in the news 
about 2\1/2\ weeks ago, Guam was considered a possible destination 
point for Kosovar refugees. It was estimated that Guam may have to 
house as many as 5,000 to 10,000 Kosovar refugees.
  Everyone willingly acknowledged that the Federal Government would be 
responsible for such an eventuality on Guam. Yet, in this particular 
instance where we are talking about 400 illegal

[[Page H2144]]

Chinese immigrants for a Federal responsibility, the Federal Government 
today has not paid the government of Guam and is now only beginning to 
become engaged in the process.
  I urge my colleagues to take a good look at this issue. I have 
introduced H.R. 945 to address the issue of the applicability of the 
INA to Guam.

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