Saipan sets policy



it's all possible because saipan is allowed to set its own immigration policy--a policy that clinton administration officials told the subcommittee is out of control and must be changed.


"it has created a plantation economy, dependent on the massive importation on a continuing basis of low-paid, vulnerable, short-term indentured workers," said secretary of the interior bruce babbitt. "that's not american."


officials on tuesday also confirmed what an abcnews 20/20 investigation had found--that pregnant garment workers on saipan are forced to have abortions to keep their jobs.


"when I told them I was pregnant, they told me to have an abortion," said tu xiao mei, a woman who lost her job after refusing an abortion.


"with 11,000 chinese workers here, I have never seen a chinese garment factory worker have a baby," said human rights worker eric gregoire.


Saipan's governor, pedro tenorio, told the senators he knows there are problems but is still opposed to any change in the law.


"i am deeply concerned that a federal takeover will have a disastrous effect on our economy," he said.


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