Doromal, a former teacher from Rota currently based in Florida, had hoped that the Democrat-led 111th Congress would act quickly after the Interior Department made its recommendation last year but she said the issue was overshadowed by the federal congressional elections.
The Republicans are now in control of the U.S. House of Representatives.
“Now that there is again an extremely polarized and partisan Congress, I do not feel hopeful that any legislation will be passed in the near future,” Doromal told the Variety in an email interview.
But she still believes that Congress would eventually act in favor of the guest workers.
“We have to continue to push for the Congress to act on the DOI recommendation. Over 7,000 nonresidents and residents signed the petition asking for the long-term nonresident workers (those who have resided in the CNMI for five or more years) be granted green cards and a direct pathway to citizenship,” she said.
“The petition remains the statement that represents the opinion of the largest amount of people from the CNMI and is consistent with the DOI Report. May the Congress honor it,” she added.
Doromal submitted copies of the petition to President Obama, Interior Assistant Secretary for Insular Affairs Tony Babauta, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, other federal officials, members of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, the House Committee on Natural Resources as well as the Hispanic and Asian Pacific American Caucuses.
“There is no assurance…that status would be granted through subsequent legislation…. We appeal to you today to support the introduction of legislation that would grant green cards and a pathway to citizenship to long-term foreign workers and nonresidents,” the petition stated.
In May 2010, in accordance with the mandates of the U.S. Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008 or U.S. P.L. 110-229 that took effect on Nov. 28, 2009, the Interior Department submitted a report to Congress recommending improved status for qualified guest workers in the CNMI.
Five options were suggested: conferring them U.S. citizenship; conferring them permanent resident status leading to U.S. citizenship, with the five-year minimum residence spent anywhere in the U.S. and its territories; or conferring them permanent resident status leading to U.S. citizenship, with the five-year minimum residence spent in the CNMI.
