Fitial won't block 'green card'
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
By Haidee V. Eugenio
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial and Lt. Gov. Eloy S. Inos said yesterday they won't oppose the federal government should it decide to grant “green cards” or lawful permanent resident status to nonresident workers in the CNMI.
Fitial, however, reiterated that CNMI Public Law 3-66, which he authored when he was a member of the 3rd Legislature, allows foreign workers to come here-as a “privilege”-only if and when resident workers are not available.
“There's nothing in that law that would even suggest that nonresident workers should be granted preferred immigration status,” the governor said.
U.S. Public Law 110-229 or the federalization law requires the Department of the Interior secretary, in consultation with the Homeland Security secretary and the CNMI governor, to recommend to the U.S. Congress-as the Interior secretary deems appropriate-a permanent immigration status for guest workers legally residing in the CNMI, by May 10, 2010.
Nonresident worker groups have started circulating a petition seeking lawful permanent resident status or “green card” to long-time foreign workers and others with relatives who are U.S. or Freely Associated States citizens in the CNMI, ahead of the May 2010 deadline.
Fitial said the granting of green cards is a “federal issue.”
“I don't have anything to do with it. That's their issue. That's a federal issue,” he told reporters in his conference room on Capital Hill yesterday afternoon.
Personally, Inos said, he won't support the granting of a green card if that status is limited only to the CNMI.
“I don't want it restricted here. If they want to issue green card, that's okay. Whoever is issued a green card can go to New Jersey, can go anywhere. But if the [green] card is limited to the CNMI, then that defeats the whole purpose of looking for our residents to obtain jobs,” he said.
The Saipan Chamber of Commerce has asked the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to consider granting a CNMI-only H-2 visa, describing it as the “true solution” to the mandated reduction in the number of foreign workers in the Northern Marianas.
Although it would be largely identical to the existing federal H-2 visa program, the Chamber-proposed visa would “not” allow egress from the CNMI to Guam or other areas of the United States, and would ensure that the CNMI has access to the workers it needs for the foreseeable future.
Fitial said his main concern is to provide jobs to local workers.
“The law is very specific. Once we identify qualified locals, then the nonresident worker occupying that position should be repatriated and that's in the law,” he said.
He said there are available training programs for resident workers, including the Northern Marianas Trade Institute.
“Some local employers are saying that local people are lazy, that they cannot produce. You know why? Because those local employers have no heart to train locals. Every employer should understand that nonresident workers here are only guest workers, they can only able to continue to work here until local workers are qualified. They should respect that,” he added.
But the governor said he “will continue to fight for the nonresident workers to remain” in the CNMI as long as they're needed, and this, he said, is the “essence of the lawsuit.”
He said he still can't tell when the CNMI government will be able to terminate its contract with the law firm Jenner & Block because one of the three counts of the lawsuit has yet to be adjudicated.
GAO visit
Fitial said some Government Accountability Office personnel are currently on island to gather data for the minimum wage impact study, but he said another GAO visit will happen in January.
Commerce Secretary Michael Ada confirmed yesterday that by early January, GAO is expected to present its preliminary study on the impact of federal minimum wage increases on the CNMI economy.
President Obama signed on Wednesday an omnibus Fiscal Year 2010 spending bill that also delays the next 50-cent minimum wage increase, from May 2010 to September 2010, to give the U.S. Congress more time to review the GAO study on the wage hike impact.
Showing posts with label Green Cards. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Green Cards. Show all posts
Monday, December 21, 2009
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
USCIS: Be careful of false advertisements
USCIS: Be careful of false advertisements
Wednesday, 09 December 2009 00:00 By Gemma Q. Casas - Reporter
OFFICIALS of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said some people may take advantage of Guest workers, foreign investors and employers gathered on Friday at American Memorial Park’s Visitors Center to listen to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officials discuss federal immigration law. CNMI’s new immigration system in the wake of reports that some individuals in China are falsely claiming that foreigners can get U.S. permanent residency status or a green card in the commonwealth.
David Gulick, district director of the USCIS, said if the information sounds too good to be true, don’t believe it.
“What we want to make people aware of is when people promise you something that seems too good to be true, like everybody will get a green card on Nov. 28, don’t believe it,” he told the Variety.
Marie Thérèse Sebrechts, Department of Homeland Security-USCIS regional media manager for Southern California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, Guam and the CNMI, said people should be very wary about rumors and should be alert for immigration fraud.
Her warning came after a person inquired about a false advertisement circulating in an undisclosed part of China wherein certain individuals are selling their services to assist Chinese to get into the CNMI which was described as a place where they could get a green card.
“I told that individual that’s not true,” she said.
“This can happen at a time when there’s confusion, some people will believe if someone says, ‘You pay me $5,000 or $10,000 I can get you a green card,’ ” she added.
The USCIS said there are no confirmed victims yet of the false advertisements in China.
“The message is be very careful. Please use the resources that are available. Use the .gov site. We have appointments, come in. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If you want legal help hire an attorney,” Sebrechts said.
The USCIS officials also noted that all forms from their office are free and that people should only get information from the official Web sites of federal agencies.
“All U.S. government web sites end in .gov. Downloading forms is free,” said Sebrechts.
Information about the CNMI’s new immigration system can be accessed at www.uscis.gov.
The USCIS said it has published the E-2 investor rule, transitional worker rule, the conforming rule, and other information materials on its CNMI Web site.
Wednesday, 09 December 2009 00:00 By Gemma Q. Casas - Reporter
OFFICIALS of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said some people may take advantage of Guest workers, foreign investors and employers gathered on Friday at American Memorial Park’s Visitors Center to listen to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officials discuss federal immigration law. CNMI’s new immigration system in the wake of reports that some individuals in China are falsely claiming that foreigners can get U.S. permanent residency status or a green card in the commonwealth.
David Gulick, district director of the USCIS, said if the information sounds too good to be true, don’t believe it.
“What we want to make people aware of is when people promise you something that seems too good to be true, like everybody will get a green card on Nov. 28, don’t believe it,” he told the Variety.
Marie Thérèse Sebrechts, Department of Homeland Security-USCIS regional media manager for Southern California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, Guam and the CNMI, said people should be very wary about rumors and should be alert for immigration fraud.
Her warning came after a person inquired about a false advertisement circulating in an undisclosed part of China wherein certain individuals are selling their services to assist Chinese to get into the CNMI which was described as a place where they could get a green card.
“I told that individual that’s not true,” she said.
“This can happen at a time when there’s confusion, some people will believe if someone says, ‘You pay me $5,000 or $10,000 I can get you a green card,’ ” she added.
The USCIS said there are no confirmed victims yet of the false advertisements in China.
“The message is be very careful. Please use the resources that are available. Use the .gov site. We have appointments, come in. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If you want legal help hire an attorney,” Sebrechts said.
The USCIS officials also noted that all forms from their office are free and that people should only get information from the official Web sites of federal agencies.
“All U.S. government web sites end in .gov. Downloading forms is free,” said Sebrechts.
Information about the CNMI’s new immigration system can be accessed at www.uscis.gov.
The USCIS said it has published the E-2 investor rule, transitional worker rule, the conforming rule, and other information materials on its CNMI Web site.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Fitial, workers welcome ruling
Fitial, workers welcome ruling
Friday, November 27, 2009
Federal takeover excludes labor-for now
By Haidee V. Eugenio
Reporter
The federal government will only be able to implement border control at the stroke of midnight on Nov. 28, but not the existing CNMI labor program, at least for now.
This is because of a federal judge's order dated Nov. 25 preventing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security from implementing in its current form the interim final rule on the CNMI transitional worker program, which takes effect on Saturday.
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial and the United Workers Movement-NMI separately welcomed yesterday U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Judge Paul L. Friedman's ruling granting the CNMI government's motion for a preliminary injunction preventing DHS from implementing its CNMI transitional worker (CW) classification rule.
“I am very pleased with this favorable decision by Judge Friedman. The interim final rule fails to comply with Public Law 110-229 and will be very damaging to the Commonwealth if it goes into effect in its present form,” Fitial said in a statement yesterday.
Fitial, who turns 64 today, sued the federal government over federalization.
He urged DHS to consider the over 100 comments that have so far been filed on its transitional worker program rule.
In an interview with Saipan Tribune on Wednesday, Fitial reiterated that a federal takeover of local labor is “unnecessary.”
“We don't have any problem having the federal government take over immigration. Let them control our border because we don't have the capabilities to do that, but we have a strong enforcement mechanism to control our labor. Why do they have to remove labor from us? It doesn't make sense and we're the only one. All the other [U.S.] territories, they control their own labor,” he said.
'Green card'
Ronnie Doca and Rabby Syed, leaders of the workers group, hope that latest court ruling will give DHS more time to consider their concerns.
Workers groups in the CNMI want the federal government to grant “green cards” or legal permanent resident status to certain classes of nonresidents in the CNMI, including long-term foreign workers.
“We are happy with the ruling so DHS will have more time to look into our concerns. Among the most important things we are asking [for] is a better immigration for long-time nonresident workers, and a blanket authority for those with valid CNMI permits to re-enter the CNMI after a vacation or emergency exit,” said Doca, board chairman of the group, which comprises thousands of foreign workers in the CNMI.
Worker groups have started a signature campaign asking President Obama and the U.S. Congress to grant “green cards” to certain foreigners in the CNMI, ahead of the May 10, 2010, deadline for Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to recommend to Congress whether a grant of permanent immigration status to nonresidents in the CNMI is necessary.
'Exit, entry'
DHS' interim final rule, which is supposed to take effect Saturday, prohibits foreign workers from re-entering the islands using only their valid CNMI work and entry permit.
Friedman said DHS could “promulgate a narrowly focused and temporary emergency regulation” that addresses only the “exit and entry” problems presented in the department's interim final rule.
Regulations by DHS' U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services would have required foreign workers to secure a CW-1 visa from a U.S. embassy for them to re-enter the CNMI, but only after they first secure a CNMI-only transitional worker status, which may take up to 60 days to acquire.
This means foreign workers can exit but not re-enter the CNMI up to at least early 2010, in order to secure a CW status and a CW-1 visa to comply with the DHS interim final rule.
DHS, however, repeatedly said that nonresident workers can exit the CNMI any time during the transition period from Nov. 28, 2009 to Dec. 31, 2014, but they cannot re-enter the islands without a CW-1 visa obtained from a U.S. embassy.
There is also a possibility that an applicant may be denied a CW-1 visa and therefore won't be able to re-enter the CNMI and continue working on the islands despite possessing a valid CNMI work and entry permit.
The Form I-29CW is a modified form of the Form I-29, but it is specifically used for the Commonwealth-only Transitional Worker, or CW, program.
A “transitional worker” under P.L. 110-229 is defined as an alien worker who is currently ineligible for another classification under the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Act and who performs services or labor for an employer in the CNMI.
Most of the foreign workers in the CNMI are from the Philippines and China, while others are from Korea, Thailand and Bangladesh.
Florida-based human rights activist and former Rota teacher Wendy Doromal expressed hope that the comments so far submitted on the DHS interim final rule “should now be considered by DHS.”
Many relate to travel restrictions and the requirement for a visa for a foreign worker to return to the CNMI after traveling for personal or medical reasons.
Friedman agreed with the CNMI that DHS had no reasonable basis for publishing the interim final rule without complying with the notice and comment provisions of the Administrative Procedures Act.
The judge also made clear that he was denying any possible effort by the U.S. Department of Justice representing DHS to obtain a stay of his order pending appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C.
Border control
The DHS transitional worker rule is supposed to take effect Saturday, when DHS' U.S. Customs and Border Protection takes over border control.
Edward H. Low, public affairs liaison at CBP's San Francisco office, earlier said that between 40 and 50 CBP officers will be on Saipan to take over immigration control at the Saipan International Airport at the stroke of midnight on Nov. 28.
But as of press time yesterday, Low said he's still checking to see what, if any, impact the court ruling will have on CBP operations.
Among other things, the federal takeover of local immigration means U.S. visas will be required of foreigners to enter the CNMI, just like Guam, Hawaii, and the rest of the United States, except for nationals of countries that are included in visa waiver programs.
The CNMI is the last U.S. territory that controls its own borders.
Fingerprinting and eye scan will also become main fixtures at the airport, just like anywhere in the U.S.
P.L. 110-229 or the Consolidated Natural Resources Act, signed by President George Bush in May 2008, not only applies federal immigration control in the CNMI but also gave the CNMI its first non-voting delegate to the U.S. Congress.
As a result of the federalization law, the CNMI held its first delegate election in November 2008, won by Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan, a former executive director of the Commonwealth Election Commission.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Federal takeover excludes labor-for now
By Haidee V. Eugenio
Reporter
The federal government will only be able to implement border control at the stroke of midnight on Nov. 28, but not the existing CNMI labor program, at least for now.
This is because of a federal judge's order dated Nov. 25 preventing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security from implementing in its current form the interim final rule on the CNMI transitional worker program, which takes effect on Saturday.
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial and the United Workers Movement-NMI separately welcomed yesterday U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Judge Paul L. Friedman's ruling granting the CNMI government's motion for a preliminary injunction preventing DHS from implementing its CNMI transitional worker (CW) classification rule.
“I am very pleased with this favorable decision by Judge Friedman. The interim final rule fails to comply with Public Law 110-229 and will be very damaging to the Commonwealth if it goes into effect in its present form,” Fitial said in a statement yesterday.
Fitial, who turns 64 today, sued the federal government over federalization.
He urged DHS to consider the over 100 comments that have so far been filed on its transitional worker program rule.
In an interview with Saipan Tribune on Wednesday, Fitial reiterated that a federal takeover of local labor is “unnecessary.”
“We don't have any problem having the federal government take over immigration. Let them control our border because we don't have the capabilities to do that, but we have a strong enforcement mechanism to control our labor. Why do they have to remove labor from us? It doesn't make sense and we're the only one. All the other [U.S.] territories, they control their own labor,” he said.
'Green card'
Ronnie Doca and Rabby Syed, leaders of the workers group, hope that latest court ruling will give DHS more time to consider their concerns.
Workers groups in the CNMI want the federal government to grant “green cards” or legal permanent resident status to certain classes of nonresidents in the CNMI, including long-term foreign workers.
“We are happy with the ruling so DHS will have more time to look into our concerns. Among the most important things we are asking [for] is a better immigration for long-time nonresident workers, and a blanket authority for those with valid CNMI permits to re-enter the CNMI after a vacation or emergency exit,” said Doca, board chairman of the group, which comprises thousands of foreign workers in the CNMI.
Worker groups have started a signature campaign asking President Obama and the U.S. Congress to grant “green cards” to certain foreigners in the CNMI, ahead of the May 10, 2010, deadline for Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to recommend to Congress whether a grant of permanent immigration status to nonresidents in the CNMI is necessary.
'Exit, entry'
DHS' interim final rule, which is supposed to take effect Saturday, prohibits foreign workers from re-entering the islands using only their valid CNMI work and entry permit.
Friedman said DHS could “promulgate a narrowly focused and temporary emergency regulation” that addresses only the “exit and entry” problems presented in the department's interim final rule.
Regulations by DHS' U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services would have required foreign workers to secure a CW-1 visa from a U.S. embassy for them to re-enter the CNMI, but only after they first secure a CNMI-only transitional worker status, which may take up to 60 days to acquire.
This means foreign workers can exit but not re-enter the CNMI up to at least early 2010, in order to secure a CW status and a CW-1 visa to comply with the DHS interim final rule.
DHS, however, repeatedly said that nonresident workers can exit the CNMI any time during the transition period from Nov. 28, 2009 to Dec. 31, 2014, but they cannot re-enter the islands without a CW-1 visa obtained from a U.S. embassy.
There is also a possibility that an applicant may be denied a CW-1 visa and therefore won't be able to re-enter the CNMI and continue working on the islands despite possessing a valid CNMI work and entry permit.
The Form I-29CW is a modified form of the Form I-29, but it is specifically used for the Commonwealth-only Transitional Worker, or CW, program.
A “transitional worker” under P.L. 110-229 is defined as an alien worker who is currently ineligible for another classification under the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Act and who performs services or labor for an employer in the CNMI.
Most of the foreign workers in the CNMI are from the Philippines and China, while others are from Korea, Thailand and Bangladesh.
Florida-based human rights activist and former Rota teacher Wendy Doromal expressed hope that the comments so far submitted on the DHS interim final rule “should now be considered by DHS.”
Many relate to travel restrictions and the requirement for a visa for a foreign worker to return to the CNMI after traveling for personal or medical reasons.
Friedman agreed with the CNMI that DHS had no reasonable basis for publishing the interim final rule without complying with the notice and comment provisions of the Administrative Procedures Act.
The judge also made clear that he was denying any possible effort by the U.S. Department of Justice representing DHS to obtain a stay of his order pending appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C.
Border control
The DHS transitional worker rule is supposed to take effect Saturday, when DHS' U.S. Customs and Border Protection takes over border control.
Edward H. Low, public affairs liaison at CBP's San Francisco office, earlier said that between 40 and 50 CBP officers will be on Saipan to take over immigration control at the Saipan International Airport at the stroke of midnight on Nov. 28.
But as of press time yesterday, Low said he's still checking to see what, if any, impact the court ruling will have on CBP operations.
Among other things, the federal takeover of local immigration means U.S. visas will be required of foreigners to enter the CNMI, just like Guam, Hawaii, and the rest of the United States, except for nationals of countries that are included in visa waiver programs.
The CNMI is the last U.S. territory that controls its own borders.
Fingerprinting and eye scan will also become main fixtures at the airport, just like anywhere in the U.S.
P.L. 110-229 or the Consolidated Natural Resources Act, signed by President George Bush in May 2008, not only applies federal immigration control in the CNMI but also gave the CNMI its first non-voting delegate to the U.S. Congress.
As a result of the federalization law, the CNMI held its first delegate election in November 2008, won by Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan, a former executive director of the Commonwealth Election Commission.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Petition for 'green cards' begins
Petition for 'green cards' begins
Ahead of federal decision on immigration status of guest workers
Monday, November 16, 2009
By Haidee V. Eugenio
A petition seeking “green cards” or lawful permanent resident status for foreign workers and others with relatives who are U.S. or Freely Associated States citizens has started circulating ahead of the May 10, 2010, deadline for Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to recommend to Congress whether a grant of permanent immigration status to nonresidents in the CNMI is necessary.
The Coalition of United Workers-NMI started circulating the petition on Nov. 9 but temporarily halted it to prioritize the issue of securing umbrella permits for “overstayers,” its president, Rene Reyes, said yesterday.
Reyes said they will resume the signature drive later this week.
Florida-based human rights activist and former Rota teacher Wendy Doromal started the online petition on Saturday, and expects to gather at least 5,000 signatures by January 2010.
“This is our last major push before the May 10, 2010, recommendation from the secretary of Interior to Congress regarding granting United States citizenship or some other permanent legal status to the nonresidents,” Doromal told Saipan Tribune when asked for comment.
The petition is addressed to President Obama, members of the U.S. Congress, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.
As of 4pm Sunday, the online petition has gathered 69 signatures.
Ronnie Doca, board chairman of the United Workers Movement-NMI, said yesterday they will begin the signature drive on Tuesday, 6pm, at the Fiesta Pilipino by Juvy restaurant across the road from Saipan Grand Hotel in Susupe.
Doromal and the two organizations of foreign workers in the CNMI are using the same petition form.
CNRA requirement
The federal government will take over CNMI immigration on Nov. 28 pursuant to Public Law 110-229 or the Consolidated Natural Resources Act, signed by President George W. Bush on May 8, 2008.
The CNRA requires the Interior secretary, in consultation with the Homeland Security secretary and the governor of the CNMI, to recommend to the U.S. Congress, as the secretary deems appropriate, a permanent immigration status to guest workers legally residing in the CNMI, by May 10, 2010.
Also included in the Interior's report are the numbers of aliens residing in the CNMI, a description of their legal status under federal law, the number of years each alien has been residing in the CNMI, and the current and future requirements of the local economy for an alien workforce.
Improved status
Over the last three years, Doromal has hand-delivered petitions and letters to the U.S. Congress and offices in Washington, D.C., seeking improved status for many in the CNMI.
The quest for improved immigration status, as the petition reads, is for foreign contract workers, CNMI permanent residents and their nonresident spouses, FAS citizens and their nonresident spouses and family members, nonresidents who are married to U.S. citizens, widows and widowers of U.S. citizens, U.S. citizen children of nonresidents, foreign-born children of U.S. citizens and nonresidents, and parents of disabled and special needs U.S. citizen children.
The FAS includes Palau, the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia (Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae).
Doromal said she and her daughter Nani will personally deliver written letters and the written petition that is circulating in the CNMI to Congress and offices in Washington, D.C. at the end of January after Congress is back in session.
“I will submit the online petition when we reach or surpass our goal,” she added.
Doromal said she has notified friends at non-profit organizations that support human rights, social justice, and immigration reform to appeal for nationwide support.
“Some of my friends are writing stories to post on major progressive Web sites, and we are creating a Facebook page. I am also reaching out to the media to appeal for support,” she added.
Pathway to US citizenship
Doromal said some people mistakenly assume that it is only the nonresidents who support status for the residents of the CNMI.
“This is not true. Millions of Americans believe that all guest worker programs should provide a pathway to citizenship. I put the petition online so that people from across the United States can sign it. The U.S. officials that the petition seeks to influence will see that the support comes not just from the people in the CNMI, but from coast to coast across our nation. The petition has only been up for about five hours and we have people signing from not just the CNMI, but from Florida, Virginia, Georgia, New York, Missouri, Tennessee, South Carolina, Texas, California, Oregon, and Connecticut,” she said.
The online petition is posted on Doromal's blog, “Unheard No More,” at http://unheardnomore.blogspot.com.
“We support the nonresidents of the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in their quest for green cards and a pathway to citizenship as expressed in this petition. We appeal to you to take immediate action to secure their standing and to keep their families together,” the petition's introductory paragraph reads.
The federalization law establishes a goal of phasing out the CNMI guest worker program and requires a report from the Department of the Interior as to the number of guest workers in the CNMI, and recommendations for status, if any.
“There is no assurance that there will be recommendations for status, nor any assurance that status would be granted through subsequent legislation even if such recommendations were made. We appeal to you today to support the introduction of legislation that would grant green cards and a pathway to citizenship to long-term foreign workers and nonresidents,” the petitioners say.
Majority of foreign workers-now only at a little over 10,000-have been in the CNMI for more
“Many of us have children who serve in the U.S. Armed Forces. We are valuable workers and law-abiding, contributing members of our island home. We call upon you to provide protection and equal rights to those of us who have dedicated our lives to building and developing this great U.S. commonwealth,” the petition reads.
In 2000, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed legislation that would have provided these segments of the CNMI population with immigration status.
However, a provision for U.S. status did not make it into the final version of the bill that would become part of Public Law 110-229 or the CNRA.
“While we understand that permanent status and a pathway to citizenship for us in the CNMI may be included in future national comprehensive immigration reform legislation, we plead with you not to wait,” it adds.
The petition cited a precedent for such a relief. In the 1980s, the Virgin Islands and the U.S. Congress realized that special legislation was needed to prevent the separation of guest workers from their U.S. citizen families. Congress passed a law allowing guest workers in the Virgin Islands to adjust to permanent residency status.
“Congress should pass a similar law tailored to the unique needs of the CNMI,” the petitioners say.
Doromal said foreigners invited to U.S. shores to work and build the economy “should be regarded as future citizens rather than replaceable commodities.”
“Those who support a just and democratic guest worker program in the CNMI and in the mainland, support opportunities where foreign workers and immigrants have control over their destiny and the destiny of their families. They embrace the words of President Barack Obama: 'In America, no dream is beyond your grasp if you reach for it, and fight for it, and work for it,'” she added.
Ahead of federal decision on immigration status of guest workers
Monday, November 16, 2009
By Haidee V. Eugenio
A petition seeking “green cards” or lawful permanent resident status for foreign workers and others with relatives who are U.S. or Freely Associated States citizens has started circulating ahead of the May 10, 2010, deadline for Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to recommend to Congress whether a grant of permanent immigration status to nonresidents in the CNMI is necessary.
The Coalition of United Workers-NMI started circulating the petition on Nov. 9 but temporarily halted it to prioritize the issue of securing umbrella permits for “overstayers,” its president, Rene Reyes, said yesterday.
Reyes said they will resume the signature drive later this week.
Florida-based human rights activist and former Rota teacher Wendy Doromal started the online petition on Saturday, and expects to gather at least 5,000 signatures by January 2010.
“This is our last major push before the May 10, 2010, recommendation from the secretary of Interior to Congress regarding granting United States citizenship or some other permanent legal status to the nonresidents,” Doromal told Saipan Tribune when asked for comment.
The petition is addressed to President Obama, members of the U.S. Congress, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.
As of 4pm Sunday, the online petition has gathered 69 signatures.
Ronnie Doca, board chairman of the United Workers Movement-NMI, said yesterday they will begin the signature drive on Tuesday, 6pm, at the Fiesta Pilipino by Juvy restaurant across the road from Saipan Grand Hotel in Susupe.
Doromal and the two organizations of foreign workers in the CNMI are using the same petition form.
CNRA requirement
The federal government will take over CNMI immigration on Nov. 28 pursuant to Public Law 110-229 or the Consolidated Natural Resources Act, signed by President George W. Bush on May 8, 2008.
The CNRA requires the Interior secretary, in consultation with the Homeland Security secretary and the governor of the CNMI, to recommend to the U.S. Congress, as the secretary deems appropriate, a permanent immigration status to guest workers legally residing in the CNMI, by May 10, 2010.
Also included in the Interior's report are the numbers of aliens residing in the CNMI, a description of their legal status under federal law, the number of years each alien has been residing in the CNMI, and the current and future requirements of the local economy for an alien workforce.
Improved status
Over the last three years, Doromal has hand-delivered petitions and letters to the U.S. Congress and offices in Washington, D.C., seeking improved status for many in the CNMI.
The quest for improved immigration status, as the petition reads, is for foreign contract workers, CNMI permanent residents and their nonresident spouses, FAS citizens and their nonresident spouses and family members, nonresidents who are married to U.S. citizens, widows and widowers of U.S. citizens, U.S. citizen children of nonresidents, foreign-born children of U.S. citizens and nonresidents, and parents of disabled and special needs U.S. citizen children.
The FAS includes Palau, the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia (Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae).
Doromal said she and her daughter Nani will personally deliver written letters and the written petition that is circulating in the CNMI to Congress and offices in Washington, D.C. at the end of January after Congress is back in session.
“I will submit the online petition when we reach or surpass our goal,” she added.
Doromal said she has notified friends at non-profit organizations that support human rights, social justice, and immigration reform to appeal for nationwide support.
“Some of my friends are writing stories to post on major progressive Web sites, and we are creating a Facebook page. I am also reaching out to the media to appeal for support,” she added.
Pathway to US citizenship
Doromal said some people mistakenly assume that it is only the nonresidents who support status for the residents of the CNMI.
“This is not true. Millions of Americans believe that all guest worker programs should provide a pathway to citizenship. I put the petition online so that people from across the United States can sign it. The U.S. officials that the petition seeks to influence will see that the support comes not just from the people in the CNMI, but from coast to coast across our nation. The petition has only been up for about five hours and we have people signing from not just the CNMI, but from Florida, Virginia, Georgia, New York, Missouri, Tennessee, South Carolina, Texas, California, Oregon, and Connecticut,” she said.
The online petition is posted on Doromal's blog, “Unheard No More,” at http://unheardnomore.blogspot.com.
“We support the nonresidents of the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in their quest for green cards and a pathway to citizenship as expressed in this petition. We appeal to you to take immediate action to secure their standing and to keep their families together,” the petition's introductory paragraph reads.
The federalization law establishes a goal of phasing out the CNMI guest worker program and requires a report from the Department of the Interior as to the number of guest workers in the CNMI, and recommendations for status, if any.
“There is no assurance that there will be recommendations for status, nor any assurance that status would be granted through subsequent legislation even if such recommendations were made. We appeal to you today to support the introduction of legislation that would grant green cards and a pathway to citizenship to long-term foreign workers and nonresidents,” the petitioners say.
Majority of foreign workers-now only at a little over 10,000-have been in the CNMI for more
“Many of us have children who serve in the U.S. Armed Forces. We are valuable workers and law-abiding, contributing members of our island home. We call upon you to provide protection and equal rights to those of us who have dedicated our lives to building and developing this great U.S. commonwealth,” the petition reads.
In 2000, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed legislation that would have provided these segments of the CNMI population with immigration status.
However, a provision for U.S. status did not make it into the final version of the bill that would become part of Public Law 110-229 or the CNRA.
“While we understand that permanent status and a pathway to citizenship for us in the CNMI may be included in future national comprehensive immigration reform legislation, we plead with you not to wait,” it adds.
The petition cited a precedent for such a relief. In the 1980s, the Virgin Islands and the U.S. Congress realized that special legislation was needed to prevent the separation of guest workers from their U.S. citizen families. Congress passed a law allowing guest workers in the Virgin Islands to adjust to permanent residency status.
“Congress should pass a similar law tailored to the unique needs of the CNMI,” the petitioners say.
Doromal said foreigners invited to U.S. shores to work and build the economy “should be regarded as future citizens rather than replaceable commodities.”
“Those who support a just and democratic guest worker program in the CNMI and in the mainland, support opportunities where foreign workers and immigrants have control over their destiny and the destiny of their families. They embrace the words of President Barack Obama: 'In America, no dream is beyond your grasp if you reach for it, and fight for it, and work for it,'” she added.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)