Sablan’s bill will grant CNMI-only resident status to nonresidents who were born here from Jan. 1974 to Jan. 1979; those who were given permanent residency by the NMI government; those married to U.S. citizens; and those with U.S. citizen children as of May 8, 2008.
Sablan left Saipan yesterday morning to return to the nation’s capital.
In a telephone interview, he said he is very happy that H.R.1466 has been scheduled for mark up.
Sablan’s bill has close to 50 co-sponsors.
He said he will continue to urge his colleagues, Democrats and Republicans, to support his measure
“It is an issue that we need to move forward as quickly as we can,” Sablan said.
The mark up, he added, is a movement forward, “and I am very pleased it is now moving forward.”
During mark up, the bill is brought to the full committee for possible amendments, further discussions and for a vote.
Extend transition period
In related news, Gov. Benigno R. Fitial said he will ask the U.S. Department of Labor to extend the transition period for the federalization of the local immigration system .
By Dec. 2014, he said, the number of nonresident workers will be down to zero as required by the federalization law.
“So I will recommend the extension of the transition period. I will not recommend something that is not right,” he said.
The governor said he does not like the intent of the law, or U.S. P.L. 110-229, which is “to wipe out every single nonresident worker” in the commonwealth.
“That is why I submitted my own issues to [federal government] to make sure that the CNMI economy is not wiped out.”
