After a copy of the Senate draft was leaked to the media late last week, Variety learned that some senators received calls from local residents who fear that they would become a minority in their homeland if guest workers are granted improved status.
Dekada president Boni Sagana said although the Senate may recommend a Freely Associated States-like status only, “that’s still a good beginning — at least we know they are open to giving us improved status.”
Citing the copy of the draft report, the Tribune reported that after being granted FAS status, eligible nonresidents may begin applying for permanent residency, but Senate Floor Leader Pete P. Reyes, R-Saipan, said this would not be their recommendation.
Sagana said during the public hearings conducted by the Senate last year, most of those who attended were in favor of improved status for guest workers.
“So we were not surprised with the Senate recommendation,” he added.
In a separate interview, Rabby Syed, United Workers Movement president, lauded the Senate but added that senators should clarify if immediate relatives of U.S. or FAS citizens are to be included in any recommendation to grant nonresidents FAS-like status.
He said the recommendation was very timely because the umbrella permit issued by the CNMI government to nonresidents will expire this November.
Syed said they will ask the U.S. Congress to provide “protection” to nonresidents so they will not be removed from the CNMI once their umbrella permits expire.
Jun Concillado, United Workers Movement vice president, said he appreciates the Senate’s initiative.
“We believe that such a recommendation will be for the best interest of guest workers, locals and the CNMI as well,” he said.
Human rights advocate Wendy Doromal, a former Rota teacher, said on her blogsite Unafraid No More”: “The U.S. Congress will realize that denying long-term residents a permanent pathway to citizenship is un-democratic and un-American.”
She added, “Disenfranchisement is not a principle on which our country was founded. The U.S. has been a country that welcomes immigrants as future citizens. The CNMI long-term workers (those who have resided in the CNMI five or more years) have jumped through more than enough hoops to earn green cards or outright U.S. citizenship. No more obstacles need to be placed in their paths.”
