In this week’s address, the Governor thanks two women for coming to the aid of police officers, and calls for the deportation of men who attacked officers.
My friends and family,
These past few weeks you have watched as a team of GovGuam agencies have come down on sections of our community that have gained the reputation of being trouble areas.
My directive was for those agencies that have some sort of oversight into housing areas to ensure the safety and health of everyone living in that complex and the community surrounding it. Everyone living on this island deserves a home where they can feel safe. This group of agencies is holding the landlord to task.
There is, however, an element of individual responsibility that also has to be dealt with.
This situation, as many of you can recall, was sparked by the attack on a police officer. Two adults and several minors were taken into custody for the attack.
Because of the actions of that one person, chaos erupted and more people came down on the officer who was struck down. There were angels among them. Two ladies realized what was happening, and threw themselves in front of the officer to shield him from further attacks.
I want to thank those young ladies, Foustena Kianam and Engky John, for their courage to do the right thing.
Now it is incumbent upon me to do my job, do the right thing and ensure the protection of all of the people living on this island.
In the Compact of Free Association Act of 1985, the treaty between the Federated States of Micronesia and the United States of America, provided citizens of FSM the freedom to enter into the U.S. and its territories to live and work. These citizens, however, also are required to abide by the laws of Guam and the United States.
JN John and VK Katson were arrested for the attack on the police officer. Such acts of violence towards officers or other public servants who are lawfully carrying out their duties are unacceptable.
As such, I am calling on U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement to remove, or deport, them. It is the federal government’s duty to ensure that migrants are complying with the requirements of their residency on Guam. Failure to comply allows for their removal, or deportation.
As it stands, statistics show a disproportionate number of migrants in the Department of Corrections – a number of whom are repeat offenders. In addition, we have seen instances where offenders are released as they await their court dates only to break the law again.
This has to stop. We have to take a stand against the criminal activities that endanger the lives of our residents and put an end to people taking advantage of the U.S. federal government’s lack of enforcement of the Treaty requirements.
I am sending letters to the FSM federal government, and the state government of Chuuk to apprise them of the situation, and then work with them to see what we can do to help those folks who are here to build a better life for themselves and their families.
Many of our brothers and sisters throughout Micronesia come to Guam in search of a better life – and many of them succeed and we recognize them for that. These few bad apples are the exception.
Thank you to everyone who continue to work to make Guam a better place. God bless us all and God bless Guam.
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