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Two sentenced to depart territory after PPD — but are these overstayers leaving?

American Samoa District Court building
reporters@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Samoa News is currently looking into claims that Samoa is refusing to accept — or at least dragging their feet on — individuals from Samoa who are being deported after overstaying or participating in criminal activity in American Samoa.

Meanwhile, overstayers Anetone and Jordana Leota have been sentenced to 24-months probation under the condition that they depart the territory and remain outside of its borders for the duration of probation.

The brothers appeared in court last week for a pretrial conference where they each pled guilty to public peace disturbance. Anetone was initially charged with PPD and third degree property damage, which was dismissed as part of the plea agreement.

According to Immigration records, Anetone entered the territory on a 30-day permit on June 21, 2018. His brother Jordana was here long before that, also on a 30-day permit, back on July 14, 2016.

With their guilty pleas, the Leota brothers admit that on Jan. 18, 2019 they were engaged in an altercation inside their home, which eventually spilled out when the cops arrived, causing a disturbance in the neighborhood.

The two men are to depart the territory once their fares and travel documents are squared away. For now, they are remanded back to custody at the TCF and will only be released to the Immigration official who is transporting them to their point of departure.

The two men have been in custody since their arrest, on a 'no bail' status due to their immigration situation.