Petitioners Peter Chika Eche and Perry Po-sheung Lo named in their complaint U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, U.S. Customs and Immigration Director David Gulick, USCIS District Office director for Guam and CNMI Walter Haith, and USCIS immigration officer Susan Teruya.
Eche and Lo jointly filed the 17-page complaint without the assistance of a lawyer.
Eche and Lo claimed they are both “lawful permanent resident of the United States,” residing in the commonwealth.
Eche is a citizen of Nigeria and a lawful permanent U.S. resident since Sept. 2004.
Eche became a teacher at Marianas High School, and was later employed as “special adviser for training” of the governor’s office.
He filed for an application for naturalization on July 28, 2009.
Lo, who was born in China, immigrated to the United States on Feb. 9, 1989. He filed an application for naturalization on Oct. 17, 2008.
Eche and Lo claimed they have been “unlawfully deprived of their right to timely naturalization.”
As a result, Eche and Lo said they have been “unlawfully deprived of the opportunity to timely obtain the substantial and unique benefits of naturalization.”
Eche and Lo are asking the court to adjudicate their eligibility for naturalization pursuant to the Immigration and Naturalization Act, and, “if the court finds [them] eligible for naturalization,” to administer [their] oath of allegiance.”
The petitioners are asking the court to declare as unlawful the violation by the defendants of U.S. Public Law 110-229 and the Immigration and Naturalization Act for the defendants’ failure to adjudicate correctly their applications for naturalization.
P.L. 110-229, or the Consolidated Natural Resources Act, extended federal immigration law to the CNMI.
Eche and Lo are also asking for monetary compensation “for all the time used [eight hours daily] in researching the law explaining to the defendants what the law said.”
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