Customs: 118 illegal entries into Guam from CNMI by boat since 2022

Lawmakers are looking to get a handle on the uptick in Chinese nationals illegally entering Guam from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands by boat. Senators introduced a bill to tighten up the law and give Customs officers the ability to make an arrest. 

It’s no secret. Chinese nationals are illegally arriving here from the CNMI by boat the past two years with no real penalty. But the number is shocking at over 100...and growing.  

Vincent Perez said before senators, "Since 2022, approximately 118, and that's only the 118 that we’re aware of, the passengers that came in and the crew that illegally entered Guam because of a loophole that doesn’t allow them to get onboard an aircraft from the CNMI into Guam, nothing precludes them from getting on a boat and sailing right in. And often times, they're made with no notice so there's an attempt to evade the protocols of entry into Guam and avoid any Customs procedures."

Perez, the chief of Customs, testified before lawmakers in support of Bill 340.  Introduced by Senator Dwayne San Nicolas, the measure seeks to tighten up the law on illegal entry and give his officers the tools to make an arrest.  "We need to bridge the gap between local and federal law which addresses the issue on illegal entry of people into the territory, most essentially of the illegal entries," Perez announced.

Deputy Attorney General Lee Miller also testifying in support, saying Customs does not have jurisdiction for immigration. "Typically its a federal crime to enter the territory of the united states illegally and so it would require the FBI or a federal agency to try to do something. But as the [Customs and Quarantine] director just indicated, most of these people will claim asylum and will be treated by the federal authorities as asylum seekers and not as criminals," he said.

Currently, Customs officers cannot refuse them their entry and can only hand out fines to the arrivals, which only amount to a misdemeanor.  The bill seeks to make the illegal entry a felony punishable with a maximum five prison sentence and a minimum fine of $25,000 per violation.