American Samoa's Immigration Office says at least half a dozen vegetable farms have been found to use foreign workers who are either overstayers or have recently arrived on 30-day permits.
It says during raids on farms it found not all workers have clearances, with payment being either in cash or in kind.
The chief immigration officer, Tamasa Dennis Lutu, says most if not all landowners who lease their lands for vegetable farming appear to be indifferent about the activities on their land, just as long as they are getting paid.
Tamasa says he thinks the farms are leased to Asian individuals, some of whom operate in partnerships with Samoans.
Many workers were found living in shacks with no electricity.
