“If these family members don’t qualify for the CW transitional worker status or some other visa, they may be deportable after Nov. 27,” Sablan said.
“The Department of Homeland Security already announced that parole in place is available for immediate relatives of citizens of the Freely Associated States, living in the NMI. Parole allows people to remain in the Northern Marianas and to apply for a work permit. Parole can be issued for humanitarian or public interest purposes. Anyone can apply for parole by making an appointment at infopass.uscis.gov. The application is free. I think this option should be available for U.S. citizen families, as it is for families of FAS citizens.”
Sablan’s meeting with Obama took place in the Cabinet Room at the White House and was the first between the president and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.
“I also asked the president to lower the local match for Medicaid in the Northern Marianas. Other CAPAC members talked about economic needs of Asian American and Pacific Islanders and the problem of health disparities in the AAPI community,” he added.
Rabby Syed, president of the United Workers Movement, expressed appreciation for Sablan’s efforts.
“I thank Congressman Sablan for taking the right initiative in this critical time to assist parents of U.S. citizen children who badly need help,” he said.
Syed said he already sent a letter to Obama, asking the president to exercise his administrative authority to issue a parole in place for all nonresident workers in the CNMI.
While in the U.S. on Sept. 30, Syed said he will also ask the U.S. Congress to grant improved status to long-term nonresident workers in the CNMI.
