Attorney General Gwen Tauiliili-Langkilde says American Samoa must show it can control its own immigration system or the federal government would step in.
Speaking at a hearing of the House Government Operations Committee into the influx of foreigners and increase in foreign owned businesses, the AG said with the push under the current US president to control migration, there may come a time when the territory would come under federal government scrutiny with regards to controlling its borders.
Play Audioag-no-control
She cited the case of the Northern Marianas where the Immigration and Naturalization Service took over the territory’s immigration system because it was not doing a good job controlling its borders.
“It may not happen for two to three years but it would eventually happen if American Samoa does not step up,” the AG warned. The AG provided the Committee a report of immigration IDs issued for employment purposes and permanent residents over the past 10 years as well as a summary of immigration policy or procedure changes related to the admission of aliens sponsored by businesses.
The total number of P5 IDs issued from 2015 to 2025 was 6,416. Foreigners allowed in under the special provision from 2015 to 2025 was 3,468. For 2025 a total of 666 foreigners were granted employment under the special provision. The top four countries are Philippines with 160, followed by Samoa with 130, 116 from China and 86 from Vietnam. In 2024 the total number of people granted employment under the special provision was 771. The special provision allows corporations to sponsor foreigners to work for their businesses. The AG said the drop was because of close monitoring and control by the AG’s Office and Immigration of those allowed into work in the territory.
The Attorney General repeated what she told a Senate hearing in January that she is recommending a 12-month moratorium on the special provision while they carry out a comprehensive review of immigration policies and how to fix current concerns with the influx of foreigners. Currently there is no limit on the number of foreigners allowed to work under the special provision.
Tauiliili-Langkilde also told the hearing that she has continued a policy from the previous AG that all visitor permits for people from China, Vietnam, Philippines and Indonesia are vetted by herself.
The Immigration Office is somewhat handicapped with the lack of resources to do its job. It was revealed that the office has only one operating vehicle.
The Deputy Director of the Department of Homeland Security, Esau Esau, informed the hearing that there have been discussions about the Customs Division of Treasury and Enforcement Division of the Immigration Office being put under the Department of Homeland Security for effective monitoring of the territory’s borders.
Play Audioesau-esau
