He said they understand that it would be cheaper if a nonresident worker transits to Guam when going back to the Philippines.
But this requires that they get a parole first from USCIS.
“So don’t be offended when we ask a lot of questions or if we remind you that if you hide on Guam you will be sent back to your country and will not be coming back to Saipan,” Haith told participants in the forum held on Saturday at the Kilili Pavilion by the United Workers Movement.
Haith said they have to be careful when screening parole applicants.
“For the most part when it comes to this I have the final say so don’t be upset with my officers — be upset with me; it is discretionary; it’s yes or no,” he added.
Based on their statistics so far, most of the parole applications have been approved, Haith said.
Nonresidents applying for a parole must convince the USCIS that they are “transiting through Guam and will be there for a very limited time with a valid reason and will not become an overstayer,” he added.
For his part, Dean Tenorio of the U.S. Department of Labor assured nonresidents that they will look into any labor violations.
Tenorio, a former CNMI Labor official, also encouraged nonresident workers to seek advice from the federal labor ombudsman, the U.S. Department of Justice, or the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission should there be labor discrimination and working hour violations and for other labor question they may have.
“The U.S. Department of Labor in the CNMI is the enforcement arm — we are not the labor processing or work permit processing agency,” he said.
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