Senate bill would prohibit Immigration board members from sponsorships

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A new bill Senate focuses in on Immigration with a measure that prohibits a member of the Immigration Board from acting as a sponsor of a foreigner and clarifies the terms of board members.

The bill also says that any person appointed to the board while they are the sponsor of a foreigner must end the sponsorship within 60-days of appointment. Additionally, any board member who becomes a sponsor or who is still a sponsor more than 60-days after their appointment shall be removed by the governor.

For the amendments dealing with staggered terms of board members, the bill says the 7 at-large members shall serve for “staggered terms that are not to exceed” 5 years.

The bill removes from current law provisions, which state that members shall serve on the board until a successor is approved. Also to be removed from current law is that board members shall elect their own chairman annually.