Majuro: Police taking graffiti threat seriously

Police in the Marshall islands are taking a threat against the Marshall Islands immigration director and his family last week seriously.

Immigration chief Damien Jacklick said the threats will not interfere with aggressive work to protect Marshall Islands borders.

A message was spray-painted at his family residence in Majuro on Wednesday morning.

In big white lettering the warning read: “Director leave immigration now. For family safety. We warn you.”

“I woke up to find this sick message and they, whoever it was, made it personal by including my family,” said Jacklick when he notified law enforcement officials about the threat. “This is something we are only accustomed to seeing in movies but not here. This is very sick and serious.”

Jacklick took over as head of Marshall Islands Immigration last year and has instituted a series of deportation actions against aliens who over-stay their visas.

Attorney General Jack Jorbon has instructed police to begin an immediate investigation.

Marshall Islands Police Department Commissioner George Lanwi said police are taking the threat seriously and will be working with local police to expand their resources to identify the culprits.

Jacklick said he will not be deterred by the threat. It’s a “sign that people aren’t happy with the level of scrutiny that the division is undertaking to protect our borders. This stupid act will not change the hard work my team has been doing since I took over.”