628 'overstayers' get conditional umbrella permits

Local
Thursday, November 26, 2009


By Ferdie de la Torre
Reporter

Attorney General Edward T. Buckingham has granted conditional “umbrella permits” to 628 aliens who have been classified as overstayers.

As this developed, two long lines of people seeking “umbrella permits” were seen at the Department of Labor yesterday-four days before the federalization transition date takes effect on Saturday, Nov. 28.

In a public notice issued today, Thursday, Buckingham said that certain conditions apply in the case of the 628 individuals who were classified as “overstayers.”

Should any of these individuals fail to comply with each and every condition, the conditional umbrella permit shall be null and void, he said.

The AG said each conditional “umbrella permit” is subject to renewal and that members of the AG Investigative Unit will be reviewing the renewals.

Aliens classified as “overstayers” and those having pending Labor cases trooped to Labor yesterday as early as 6am. As of 12pm, many of the “early birds” were still near the entrance of the former Halinas Kitchen where Labor and Immigration were processing the “umbrella permits.”

The other separate line was for persons having Immediate Relative status or pending IR status. Some of those with IR status said they fell in line on Tuesday, but were instructed to return yesterday.

In a statement issued Tuesday, Labor Deputy Secretary Cinta Kaipat stated that over 90 percent of those qualified to obtain the “umbrella permits” have already obtained their permits.

The federalization law states that any Commonwealth-issued permit that is in existence on Nov. 27, 2009, will be honored for two years after the law's transition date. The transition date is currently set for Nov. 28, 2009.

Labor began the distribution of “umbrella permits” last Oct. 26.