By Cherrie Anne E. Villahermosa
Variety News Staff

THE Superior Court has ordered the deportation of five people who were among those arrested in December for human smuggling.
Superior Court Associate Judge David A. Wiseman yesterday said the passports of Guohua Zheng, Junbin Yu, Zhaojian Zeng, Zhipping Zheng and Mingsheng Zheng are to be released to the Division of Immigration for repatriation purposes.
The five appeared for an order to show cause hearing on Jan. 4.
According to Wiseman, the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the respondents are deportable aliens.
He said the respondents failed to comply with the conditions and requirements of their entry permits which have already expired.
The five were among those arrested by the Attorney General’s Investigative Unit and the Department of Public Safety on Dec. 16, 2006 at 2 a.m. after their boat was intercepted by the authorities at the Smiling Cove Marina.
Guohua Zheng overstayed for two years and entered the CNMI as a construction worker while Junbin Yu has been an overstaying tourist for one year and nine months.
Zhaojian Zeng is also an overstaying tourist and has been in the CNMI illegally for two years and four months.
Mingsheng Zheng overstayed for seven years and 11 months. He initially worked here as a farmer but his permit expired in 1999.
Zhipping Zheng overstayed for one year and three months.
The respondent was deported in 1998 and was banned for five years but departed the CNMI only on Dec. 5, 2001 and returned on Oct. 9, 2004.
Wiseman said the respondent failed to comply with the order of deportation.
Zhipping Zheng was employed as a construction worker and a farmer when he first entered the CNMI.
The five respondents comprise the second batch of aliens to be deported in connection with the most recent human smuggling case.
Wiseman on Monday deported eight other aliens for overstaying and for conspiring with other persons to exit the CNMI on a vessel with the intent of entering the United States.