Rabby Syed, president of the United Workers Movement, at the same time commended the Senate for adopting a resolution “encouraging” the U.S. Congress to give long-term guest workers here an immigration status similar to what was provided to the citizens of the Freely Associated States: Palau, the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia — Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei and Yap. FAS citizens can reside, study or work anywhere in the U.S. and its territories.
The Senate recommendation no longer provides for a five-year waiting period before long-term guest workers can be eligible for FAS-like status. The U.S. Congress still has to pass enabling legislation. It has not acted on a similar proposal from the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Senate Floor Leader Pete P.Reyes, R-Saipan, said they took out the five-year waiting period requirement after receiving more testimony from members of the community, including guest workers, during public hearings on Rota, Tinian and Saipan.
Some of the guest workers pointed out that their umbrella permits will expire this November and they may no longer be in the CNMI in 2013 when the waiting period ends.
Syed, in an interview Friday following the Senate action, said guest workers appreciate the senators’ recommendation.
But since it is still up to the U.S. Congress to decide whether to grant improved status, Syed said they will ask U.S. lawmakers to consider the CNMI Senate recommendation and make it a pathway to U.S. citizenship.
Authored by Senate Vice President Jude U. Hofschneider, R-Tinian, Senate Resolution 17-42 recommends that “all nonresident workers residing in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands for 10 years on the date U.S. Public Law 110-229 became law shall receive similar immigration status as that held by citizens of the Freely Associated States.”The U.S. law, which federalized local immigration, was enacted on May 8, 2008.
The resolution was unanimously passed by an 8-0 vote. Sen. Jovita M. Taimanao, Ind.-Rota, was absent.
