U.S. Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan has reintroduced H.R. 560, which proposes to grant permanent status to long-term Commonwealth-only Transitional Workers and foreign investors in the CNMI.
H.R. 560, or the Northern Mariana Islands Legal Residents Relief Act of 2021, was referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
First elected in 2008, Kilili is hoping to remain the committee vice chair with responsibility for insular affairs.
In his e-newsletter, Kilili noted similar legislation, also numbered H.R. 560, passed the U.S. House in the last Congress, but “died” in the Republican Senate.
The CNMI administration, key lawmakers and the business community also expressed support for the bill.
Kilili said, in addition to making long-term workers and investors eligible for permanent residency in the CNMI, the Northern Mariana Islands Legal Residents Relief Act of 2021 gives those eligible for permanent status under P.L. 116-24 another chance to apply and makes certain family members eligible, too.
P.L. 116-24 granted permanent residence and work authorization in the CNMI to persons who were first allowed to enter the islands under the Commonwealth’s own immigration law. Permanent residency is also available to those left “stateless” as a result of the islands’ Covenant of Political Union with the U.S., and to family members of U.S. citizens.
According to Kilili’s new bill, after five years, persons with CNMI permanent resident status could apply to become U.S. permanent residents.
His bill also addresses concerns with the implementation of P.L. 115-218, or the Northern Mariana Islands U.S. Workforce Act, including clarifying congressional intent on touchback timing, extending the validity of an approved Commonwealth occupational survey, and increasing the time for CWs to apply for visas to enter the CNMI.
“My bill also ensures Marianas permanent residents and CWs can get relief and assistance in the aftermath of natural disasters,” he added.
Rep. Joseph Leepan T. Guerrero said he is in full support of Kilili’s reintroduction of H.R. 560 in the U.S. Congress. He said it just proper that the government allow qualified long-term guest workers to remain in the CNMI with a more permanent immigration status.
He said these long-term workers comprise the biggest skilled manpower in the CNMI and they have also raised families here. “So it is unfair to treat them in a way that will put them in limbo,” Guerrero added.
The Saipan Chamber of Commerce, in statement last year, said: “Long-term legal residents have played an integral role in growing and shaping our Commonwealth…. Our workers, families, and community need a permanent solution to an issue that has created an unstable workforce and…economy.”
