American Samoa's former Congressman Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin has urged local leaders to call a national convention to discuss American Samoa's future political status and the issue of US citizenship.
Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin Photo: Free google search image
Last week, a three-judge panel with the US Appeals Court in Washington ruled that people born in American Samoa do not automatically become citizens of the United States.
The decision was the result of an appeal by five American Samoans, four of them living in the US, who argued that the 14th amendment of the US Constitution says otherwise.
Faleomavaega says this case is far from over because the plaintiffs still have the option of going to the US Supreme Court and that's even more dangerous because its decision in final, which is also the final rule of the land affecting American Samoa.
He has reiterated that US citizenship for persons born in American Samoa should not be decided by judicial action but by the people of American Samoa.
He also says American Samoa needs to clearly define its political status with the United States and the wishes of the people can then be relayed to Congress.
American Samoa is listed as an unincorporated and unorganised territory.