What is the true number of overstayers in the territory?
While the Department of Health has been quoting 3,000 and attributed that figure to the Office of Immigration. Chief Immigration Officer Peseta Dennis Fuimaono said at Sunday’s measles briefing that he doesn’t know where that figure came from.
He said their estimate of overstayers is about 1,200.
Governor Lolo Moliga instructed Peseta to work on providing an accurate number of overstayers and have it ready for the next weekly briefing.
Peseta reported that for the amnesty program 850 have come into register since December 8.
Speaking to KHJ News today, the Chief Immigration Officer said that there’s been slow response to the amnesty offer especially from citizens of Samoa.
January 8 was initially the last day to register under the December 8 continued public health emergency declaration. However it has now been extended another 30 days.
The Immigration Office moved to make proof of immunization a condition for renewing immigration IDs, clearances for OMV, work and school authorizations, thereby contributing to the immunization campaign against measles.
According to Peseta a total of 1,763 people obtained their vaccinations as a result of that requirement by the Office of Immigration when the first emergency declaration was issued November 13.
