9 Nov 2015

American Samoan may look to mainland for border control

12:56 pm on 9 November 2015

An American Samoa senator says putting the territory under the United States immigration system could be an effective option for border control.

Senator Galeai Tuufuli says the administration has plenty of room for improvement before looking at increased federalisation, but there are advantages, such as making Pago Pago an official port of entry to the USA.

The territory's Chief Justice, Michael Kruse, recently lamented that convicts banned from the territory have been re-entering.

Galeai says the current system is inefficient and needs to change.

"Because for years we have not been able to steer this immigration office to a point whereby they are providing the services that American Samoa needs in the most efficient manner. Whereas if the federal is here then the management of that office will be different."

Galeai says another advantage is that all immigration workers would be federal employees with the best training.

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Photo: Supplied