The current Immigration computer system is hack-able, unreliable, unsecured and anyone can override, modify or alter the immigration files of foreigners in the system, according to Chief Immigration Officer (CIO) Tamasa Dennis Lutu, in response to Samoa News queries covering issues at the Immigration office.  

He noted that any Immigration officer can change, revise or alter what is already in the Immigration _system, including the computer system they are using, which makes it dangerous for the government given that Immigration is the entrance door into the territory.

In regards to how unreliable the Immigration computer system is, he gave the following example: “Just last night (Monday night) I went to the airport for an unannounced visit, to find out that six of our computers are all dead… I asked our immigrations officers working behind the counters, and they said… oh we just wait it out for at least 10 minutes then we turn it back on and we’re good.”

Another example Tamasa said, is if “someone is deported they automatically go on the lookout list and any Immigration officer can remove this person’s name from that list and allow that person to enter the territory.”

The CIO explained that upon learning how unreliable the Immigration system is in terms of entry permits for foreigners, he implemented a manual route that Immigration now takes prior to issuing permits, whereas now no one signs off on the application except supervisors he has appointed — who are tasked with going through the permit application before approval.

Tamasa noted that if the permit indicates that a matai (Chief) signed off on it, they will seek confirmation with the Office of Samoan Affairs.

“We also have a list of registered chiefs and their signatures, where Immigration officers are mandated to compare the signatures, given that anyone can sign off as a Chief.

“After all of this is done, the supervisor will review, and if all the proper documents are in place, then I sign off on it, or Deputy Chief Immigration Officer Faga (Malama Fuala’au),” he said.

Asked if the computers have log-ins or are password protected, Chief Immigration Officer replied, “Unfortunately at this time…no.”

Samoa News asked what Immigration is doing to tackle the issue at hand, and Tamasa stated they are currently working with the Department of Homeland Security, which has funding to purchase secure software (automated system) and 15 new computers with 15 new scanners.

He also pointed out that the scanners at the airport are not working, and Immigration officers most likely have to manually document all the information on the passport on a sheet of paper, rather than the scanner doing what it’s supposed to be doing.

Tamasa said the new software will create a database that will not be hack-able and will be password protected, meaning it won’t be vulnerable to anyone, including Immigration officers. He added that the new Immigration system will be automated and there will be no more paper trails.

The CIO told Samoa News that during the last Sevens tournament held in April, a man who was convicted in the beating of a referee from Samoa in 2011 came in on one of the teams. “And given the unsecure and unreliable current Immigration system, it didn’t pick it up…luckily it was discovered by face recognition,” he said. "One of the Immigration officers knew this man was deported as part of his sentence in June 2012."

The man in question is Tautiaga Iuli aka Pelenato Pua aka ‘Misi’ aka ‘Barry’, one of the five rugby players charged in connection with the assault on the referee from Samoa. During sentencing his attorney asked the court to allow him to return to his home (Samoa) given that his immigration status was illegal.

Chief Justice Michael Kruse sentenced the defendant to five years in jail, however execution of sentence was suspended and the defendant was placed on five years’ probation under certain terms and conditions. One of them was the defendant was to leave the territory and remain outside for the period of his five-year probation. At the time, Kruse warned Tautiaga that he must not attempt to enter the territory within his probation term.

The Chief Immigration Officer noted that now this man cannot enter the territory for another five years given because he did not comply with immigration terms the first time, which was to stay outside and not attempt to enter.