He said consistent with the goals of comprehensive immigration reform, they will ask the U.S. Congress to consider permitting alien workers who have lawfully resided in the CNMI for a minimum period of five years to apply for long-term status under the Immigration and Nationality Act of the United States.
“We, the members of the United Workers Movement, agree with the Department of the Interior’s recommendation, and we support long-term status for legal foreign workers that will include a direct pathway to U.S. citizenship,” he said.
Syed said since 2009, their group and many other organizations and individuals have been circulating a petition on a long-term status for guest workers.
He said the petition has been signed by more than 7,000 individuals, including many foreign workers, indigenous residents and other U.S. citizens.
The petition has been submitted to the U.S. Congress, he added.
On Aug. 4, Syed said his group will submit its official statement during the CNMI Senate hearing on improved status at the Kagman Community Center.
He urged all guest workers to participate the hearing and present their testimony.
Syed said they will ask the members of the local Senate and all the leaders of the CNMI as well as indigenous residents and other U.S. citizens, to support long-term U.S. status and a pathway to U.S. citizenship for CNMI guest workers.
“We have grown to love the CNMI during the course of our many years in these islands. Our families and friends are here. Our home is here. We have dedicated our lives to building and developing this great commonwealth, andwe, too, are your constituents,” he said in a letter to the CNMI Senate.
“For the sake of our families,” he added, “and the economic recovery of the CNMI, our request should be supported.”
