By Max Bartels
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania
Pago Pago, American Samoa
American Samoa, a territory of the United States has recently granted amnesty to 4,000 foreign migrant workers living in the territory. Prior to this new bill American Samoa had a quota system of allowing only about 350 immigrants enter a year, this bill temporary changes that limit for this year only. The territorial government of American Samoa has stated that the bill is the first step in immigration reform, which is completely unencumbered by the United States federal immigration law. The territorial government has also stated that they have had trouble with undocumented workers in the past and that mass amnesty and giving legal status helps these immigrants better contribute to society, which is better for the immigrants, and better for American Samoa.
The bill is also important to the government of the territory in providing accurate census numbers. Census information is one of the biggest factors assessed in deciding the amount of federal aide the territory gets from the United States. With a large population of undocumented workers using the local infrastructure it creates a drain on the aide money. Previously the government did not get aide money reflecting the actual number of people living in American Samoa.
The migrants granted amnesty hail from 24 countries. Neighboring Samoa had 2,845 people, 457 Tongans, 446 come from the Philippine Islands, 101 from Fiji, 96 from China, 19 from New Zealand, 17 from Vietnam and 12 from South Korea. Other nations that are represented in the amnesty group include Australia, Germany, Federated States of Micronesia, Romania, Great Britain and Taiwan.
The Minimum wage in American Samoa is lower then the federal minimum and ranges from $4.18- $5.59. The minimum wage varies in that range depending on the industry, some industries require higher or lower minimum wages according to the territorial law. American Samoa’s minimum wage is also the lowest out of all the U.S territories. The working conditions in American Samoa are reported to be poor for foreign migrant workers; government and other highly sought jobs are only given to ethnic Samoans, which limits the potential jobs for these migrant workers.
For more information, please see:
ABC News — American Samoa Grants Amnesty to More Than 4,000 — 24 September 2014
Radio New Zealand — American Samoa Grants Over 4,000 Immigration Amnesty — 1 October 2014
PayWizard.org — Territorial Minimum Wage — 4 October 2014
