During their visit on Saipan last week, Stayman and Edwards met briefly with the guest workers.
Boni Sagana, Dekada Movement president, said the meeting was unscheduled and very brief but “very fruitful.”
He said they were “very elated” to be given a chance to express their concerns regarding the federalization of local immigration, which will begin in November.
In their four-page letter to Stayman, Sagana reiterated their opposition to any further delay in the implementation of the federalization law.
They also recommended the granting of improved status to guest workers who have been lawfully admitted and have resided in the CNMI for at least five years on or before the enactment of the federaliztion law; parents of U.S. citizen children three year old and above on the date of the law’s enactment; and those who are out of status but have yet to collect their awarded claims.
The letter was also signed by Yho Villavicencio, Malou Berueco, Conrad Ocampo, Ernest Maicle, Hector Sevilla, Lito Marquez, Lito Parulan and Edong Elenzano.
Sagana said they told Stayman to give guest workers protection from being sent back to their home countries.
“As stated in [federal immigration] law, if an alien becomes out of status, it is legal for him to stay in any states not exceeding 180 days. Based on this provision and in relation to a possible further delay in the implementation of the [federalization] law, we ask that there should be a regulation put in place as soon as possible,” he said.
In a separate letter to Stayman, five guest worker group leaders urged for the establishment of a “just and democratic program” for guest workers to ensure the security and well-being of their U.S. citizen children.
“Despite the undeniable economic and social contributions of the foreign contract workers to the CNMI, we continue to be treated as an underclass without rights. Most of us have lived under the U.S. flag for long periods of time and we call the CNMI our home,” the letter stated.
One of its signatories, Rabby Syed, United Workers Movement, NMI president, said every day guest workers live in fear because of the uncertainties in their and their children’s future.
“We could be sent back to our homelands, where we have no job opportunities, no way to provide for our families, no healthcare and our families will surely face a dismal future,” he said.
The other signatories were Rene Reyes, Coalition of United Workers, NMI president; Ronnie Doca, Pilipino Contract Workers Association, president; Itos Feliciano, Human Dignity Movement, president; and Jun Concillado, United Workers Movement adviser and Pilcowa board chairman.
