ONE of the United States' top investigators of illegal immigration has been reassigned from Hong Kong at the start of the alien smuggling ''sailing season'' and will not be replaced for at least six months.
Jerry Stuchiner, the officer in charge of the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (INS) in Hong Kong until last Friday, flies back to the US today.
The task of providing intelligence on illegal immigration now falls on the shoulders of Jim DeBates, who will be operating on his own until October, when a replacement for Mr Stuchiner is due to arrive.
The delay is believed to be due to ''economic problems'' within the INS, which is expected to post a deficit of US$40 million (HK$308 million) this year.
Mr Stuchiner, who is believed to have set up a considerable intelligence network in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong in his five years at the US Consulate, is being posted to a new station in Honduras.
Because of the personal and sensitive nature of the network, it is unlikely any of these contacts will be passed on, causing concern among some US and Hong Kong officials.
Mr Stuchiner would not comment on the move other than to confirm he was being sent to Honduras to set up a new INS post.