it's all possible because saipan is
allowed to set its own immigration
policy--a policy that clinton
administration officials told the
subcommittee is out of control and must be
changed.
"it has created a plantation economy,
dependent on the massive importation on a
continuing basis of low-paid, vulnerable,
short-term indentured workers," said
secretary of the interior bruce babbitt.
"that's not american."
officials on tuesday also confirmed what
an abcnews 20/20 investigation had
found--that pregnant garment workers on
saipan are forced to have abortions to
keep their jobs.
"when I told them I was pregnant, they
told me to have an abortion," said tu xiao
mei, a woman who lost her job after
refusing an abortion.
"with 11,000 chinese workers here, I have
never seen a chinese garment factory
worker have a baby," said human rights
worker eric gregoire.
Saipan's governor, pedro tenorio, told the
senators he knows there are problems but
is still opposed to any change in the law.
"i am deeply concerned that a federal
takeover will have a disastrous effect on
our economy," he said.
