By Moneth G. Deposa
Variety News Staff

TWO staff members of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and an attorney with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will be on island to discuss local immigration policies with CNMI officials.
The three are scheduled to meet with Gov. Benigno R. Fitial and some of his cabinet members on Feb. 27 at 9 a.m. in the conference room of the administration building.
Press Secretary Charles P. Reyes Jr. said the governor will provide Allen Stayman and Josh Johnson of the Senate Committee, along with Alex Gisser of Homeland Security, “with accurate and current information on CNMI immigration.”
Reyes added, “We are eager to outline the concrete steps we have taken to reduce the number of illegal immigrants and protect our borders.”
Acting Speaker Justo A. Quitugua, D-Saipan, said “because they will be sending the counsel for Homeland Security, I am assuming that they would like to check on how our security works and make that a justification for controlling our immigration. What they will probably say is that if they continue to give CNMI control of immigration then it may not be in the best interest of the U.S. national security because under our system, we let anybody come in and the U.S. Congress may not be content with this arrangement as this may affect national security.”