But Syed said they were anticipating positive “developments because we were appealing to the federal government about the status of nonresidents here.”
He added, “The Department of Homeland Security is really doing something to protect the immediate relatives of U.S. citizens and long-term residents in the CNMI,” he said, referring to those groups of persons that will be granted CNMI-only status by H.R, 1466: CNMI permanent residents, those born in the CNMI between Jan. 1, 1974 and Jan. 9, 1978, their spouses and children, and immediate relatives of U.S. citizens.
Syed said DHS’ announcement is a “good sign” that the department is listening to the appeal of the people here.
Their group, he said, is hoping that DHS will eventually grant humanitarian parole to all the long-term nonresidents in the CNMI.
In a media release, Sablan said U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Alejandro Mayorkas called the congressman “very early [Thursday] morning to announce the decision to grant parole on a case by case basis to anyone from the four groups defined in H.R. 1466 who applies.
Sablan said the USCIS will release specific guidance on how to apply in the next few days.
Those covered by the decision are asked to wait until further instructions are provided before applying.
“I applaud this decision to provide humanitarian parole to persons in the four groups and it is certainly welcome news on this Thanksgiving Day. I am very grateful to director Mayorkas, to DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano, and, ultimately, to President Obama. They understand the vital need for this administrative relief, particularly so that the families of U.S. citizens will not face separation after November 28,” he said.
