By Bryan Manabat
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Variety News Staff
AN Israeli national, Ariel Shtul, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for overstaying his visa.
“They’re doing their job,” Shtul said when asked for comment Wednesday. He said he remained on Saipan because of “unfinished business on the island,” but did not elaborate.
Shtul was seen entering an ICE facility in Gualo Rai on Wednesday morning for immigration court proceedings, escorted by ICE agents along with two other detainees.
Reporters were not allowed inside the proceedings due to limited space and security concerns. The Saipan Immigration Courtroom in Lower Base remains inoperable after sustaining damage during Super Typhoon Sinlaku, Variety learned.
In February, the Department of Public Safety arrested Shtul, 45, in connection with a reported vandalism incident in Oleai. DPS identified him as a suspect and took him into custody shortly after responding to the complaint.
Shtul was charged with criminal mischief and criminal trespass. A photo of him circulated on social media that weekend after the alleged vandalism was captured on camera near a “Free Palestine” sign posted on private property in Oleai.
The following day, Shtul reportedly returned to the area and was confronted by the property owner, Ponce Rasa, who chased him away. In a video posted online, Shtul can be heard shouting, “I’m dying for the police to arrest me… The police do not have the balls, I have them.”
Variety learned that Shtul’s B-2 tourist visa had expired on May 2. ICE agents arrested him in Garapan near the Monster Pizza establishment, and he has remained in custody since.
During Wednesday’s immigration hearing, Honolulu Immigration Judge Clarence Wagner granted Shtul’s request for a continuance in observance of the Jewish holiday Shavuot, which commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. The proceedings are scheduled to resume Friday.
Bryan Manabat was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College where he also studied criminal justice. He is the recipient of the NMI Humanities Award as an Outstanding Teacher (Non-Classroom) in 2013, and has worked for the CNMI Motheread/Fatheread Literacy Program as lead facilitator.
