In an open letter to his constituents, Sablan, Ind.-MP, said he too was disappointed with Interior’s recommendation.
“No wonder the report caused so much anger and uncertainty. Because what happens to the thousands of people, who we allowed to live in our islands under CNMI immigration law, will have a profound impact on the future of our economy, our government, and our families,” he said.
“You are worried that the U.S. Congress will take immediate action on the Interior recommendations without consulting the people of the Northern Marianas,” he added.
“The purpose of this letter is to explain clearly why that’s not going to happen.”
He reiterated that Interior’s recommendations are just that — proposals.
“First, Congress will not act quickly. Immigration is a very complex issue. In the Northern Marianas and all around our country, people are deeply divided on immigration policy. It’s unlikely Congress will take any action on immigration this year,” Sablan said.
Second, he said the people of the Northern Marianas are now represented in Congress and there’s an unwritten rule that legislation affecting a certain jurisdiction should come from its congressional representative.
“I will not agree to any change in immigration law that affects only the Northern Marianas until I have consulted fully with my constituents, and unless I am convinced the proposed change is in our best interest,” Sablan said.
“The executive branch has lots of ideas about what Congress should do. But Congress has a mind of its own.
Congress may never seriously consider any of the five options in the Interior report — certainly not the proposal for instant citizenship. But one thing is certain: eventually Congress will take up legislation to set a new national immigration policy. If the Northern Marianas is locked into that comprehensive immigration reform, then we are less likely to get a solution that fits our special needs,” he added.
“That’s why it is so important that the people of Northern Marianas begin to decide what we want. We have time. But if we only use that time to say what we don’t want, we will lose our opportunity to get what we do want.”
