To: Douglas Chin, Attorney General, Hawai'i
AG Douglas Chin: Drop your support for slave fishing captains
Hawai'i does not allow issuance of fishing licenses to anyone not legally in the U.S. Homeland Security has added a checkbox specifically for illegally present workers on ships allowing them to be "detained on board" as prisoners by their captains. Despite these people being under deportation orders, DLNR is issuing the captains fishing licenses for these prisoners. This promotes human trafficking and slave conditions for the workers. AG Doug Chin, please drop your support for this practice and enforce the rules.
Why is this important?
Formerly Homeland Security deportation form allowed for two choices: "Deport immediately" and "Bring to a deportation hearing immediately." At the behest of foreign vessels, Sen Inouye got them to add a third choice of "Detain on board". This was meant to be a few days while the ship was briefly docked in Hawai'i. What it has turned into is months and years of imprisonment for foreign fishermen and human trafficking. AG Chin is supporting the practice of illegally issuing these deportees fishing licenses which underpins this entire human trafficking operation.