Sens. Luis P. Crisostimo, D-Saipan, Maria T. Pangelinan, D-Saipan, Paul A. Manglona, R-Rota, Paterno S. Hocog, R-Rota, and Joseph M. Mendiola, Covenant-Tinian met with Grey in the Senate chamber to discuss his plans for the more than 40 local immigration employees whose jobs may be affected when the federal government takes over the management of local immigration.
Pangelinan wants to know if the employees will be absorbed by the federal system.
Crisostimo, who reiterated his opposition to the federalization of local immigration, said he will encourage the federal government “to hire all our local immigration officers.”
Grey, who used to work for the federal Immigration and Naturalization Service, said training funded by the federal government will be provided to the local staff.
The local immigration personnel will have to enlist in the federal immigration academy and pass the firearms training, he said.
The local staff may have to hone their writing and reading comprehensions skills in preparation for the academy, he added.
According to Grey, he has yet to be informed by the federal government as to when and where the training of the local immigration staff will be held.
He believes that federal instructors may be sent to the CNMI to train local staff.
Crisostimo expressed appreciation to Grey for pushing for the training of local immigration employees as this will help secure them a job with the federal immigration.
