Celia B. Dela Cruz, 56, who appeared without a lawyer, was provided with a translator by the Saipan immigration court. She told Honolulu Immigration Judge Clarence M. Wagner that she would like to avail of voluntary removal from the CNMI.
Before rendering his judgment, Wagner asked Dela Cruz, a former houseworker, if she wanted to look for a lawyer, but she said she would represent herself.
She told the court she had no money, but she said the Philippine Consulate General would provide her a plane ticket.
She asked the judge to give her at least three days to coordinate her repatriation with the Philippine Consulate General.
The judge ruled that she could not avail of voluntary removal if she didn’t have money for her airfare.
Wagner determined and ordered her removability based on the charging document filed by U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Dela Cruz waived her right to appeal and accepted the court’s decision.
Wagner told her to coordinate with DHS regarding the date of her actual removal.
She told the court she first arrived in the CNMI in 1994 and worked on Rota.
She is single and has no U.S. citizen children.
She has been “out of status” since 2009.
Her friends have been taking care of her, and no employer will petition a CW1 visa for her.
In an interview with Variety after her removal proceedings, she said “it’s time to go home.”
Last night, Variety learned that her friends bought her medicines as she was already taken into custody by federal agents.
Dyan Kristine B. Miranda, legal officer at the Philippine Consulate General, said they are helping Dela Cruz.
As of last night, Miranda said 39 applications for repatriation wee being processed by their office. Six Filipino nationals have already been repatriated.
Dela Cruz was among the 24 respondents in yesterday’s removal proceedings in Saipan immigration court presided over by Wagner via video conference from Honolulu.
Some respondents appeared with their lawyers, while others represented themselves.
Wagner continued the removal proceedings, including two applications for asylum.
U.S. ICE chief counsel Matthew M. Downer of Honolulu represented the federal government.
The federal government asked the immigration court to rule in-absentia for those respondents who didn’t appear for their removal proceedings.
