Man charged with PPD here illegally for 8 yrs

scale-of-justice-4

A man who was in a fight and hauled off to the Territorial Correctional Facility was discovered to have been in the territory for 8 years without any immigration clearance.

Malae Sola arrived on a 30-day permit on October 30, 2010 and continued to reside here without any legal approval.

The court was told that he is married to an American Samoan national and they have children.  His wife  is now petitioning the Immigration Board to sponsor him.

It’s not quite clear however if the defendant is legally married to the would be sponsor.

In court last week. Judge Sunia appeared intrigued with the case.  He asked how someone who has been here illegally for 8 years can now petition the Immigration Board to legalize his presence in the territory.

He asked if this was an immigration lapse and the immigration agent in court said yes.

Sola was returned to the TCF after his court hearing on Thursday and is set to return to District Court December 14.