American Samoa's Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga has signed into law the immigration amnesty bill, that would allow more than 2,400 foreign nationals who registered during the recent amnesty campaign to reside legally in the territory.
A provision of the bill also allows just over 1,000 people lawfully present and already in the Immigration Board queue awaiting their quota to become available to get their immigration ID issued.
In signing the bill into law, Lolo says he is pleased to have been able to work with the Fono on this measure to open the numerical limitations to enable qualified applicants to register their status in American Samoa.
He says these foreigners are contributing members of society, in some cases along with their families, who have fallen into circumstances, not always of their own making.
The governor says American Samoa owes these individuals the opportunity to become full-fledged members of the community.
The highest number of foreigners registered on the amnesty are from Samoa at nearly 2,900 individuals.
All foreigners who qualified under the Amnesty will now go through the Immigration Board for interviews and all must have sponsors.
The government had made clear that anyone with a criminal background will not be granted amnesty.
