Micaela Tenorio Demapan debated in the negative against Jessica Lee in the senior division while Young Eun Lee debated in the affirmative against Florendo Glen of Grace Christian Academy.
Like Demapan and Young Eun Lee, Jessica Lee is also an MBA student.
The debate topic was “Resolve: U.S. Public Law 110-229 violates the CNMI’s right of local self-government under Section 103 of the Covenant.”
U.S. P.L. 110-229, which was signed by President Bush on May 8, 2008, applies federal immigration law to the CNMI.
Demapan said the CNMI will not be affected when non-U.S. citizens leave the islands.
“When foreign workers leave, more opportunities will open up for locals,” she added.
Jessica Lee, however, said once non-U.S. workers leave the islands, the local economy will be affected.
NMI Humanities Council program officer Scott Russell told the Variety that the contestants did well, considering that they did not know what side they would be debating until the last minute.
The Covenant Day debate is an annual program of the NMI Council for the Humanities to promote local students’ research and debating skills.
Judges for the debate were former Presiding Judge Edward Manibusan, attorneys Vincent J. Seman and Judy DLG Torres.
Patricia B. Coleman was the moderator.
