I’m recommending that we help form an organization to raise funds for the application fees instead of waiting for our leaders who don’t really understand U.S. immigration law which can only be changed by the government of the United States which is responsible in ensuring the safety, health and welfare of United States residents.
Yes, many guest workers have been working for our islands and are trying to find ways to stay with us. The United States government will never understand us unless we show records and statistics regarding how the long-term guest workers affect our safety, health and welfare in this world economic crisis.
Telling them about your human rights will not convince them to grant you improved status, but showing them how you can help improve the general health, safety and welfare of CNMI residents may convince them.
But since many employers and guest workers fail to follow DHS regulations, we are now in a lot of mess. I’m also recommending that employers start looking for solutions to retain their employees who they really need at this time of economic hardship. One way is to start creating transition programs to hire locals and train them to replace the guest workers in case they leave. Guest workers need to support this program because back in the ’80s I remember that your purpose was to work for us and train local residents to be able to replace you in case you leave or resign. By supporting this program you will have a purpose to stay.
Local residents who are unemployed should take advantage of this program and help rebuild our economy and regain their employers’ trust.
Lawmakers should start collecting data that will support this request and summit them to Congressman Kilili.
Yes, it is sad for many of you out there, but the law is the law.
Believe me, I just came back from the mainland U.S. and they have the same issues and worse problems than ours. So, to be safe, we need to support each other and not fight over human rights. Some have gone to the U.S. Congress to report abuses of guest workers. Do you know about the experiences of some guest workers in the U.S.? Some are stealing identities and some are smuggling in containers where some have died.
There are many human trafficking cases that are worse than those reported in the CNMI.
So if you say you’re human, then start working together and with each other. Humans work together, not fight each other. Let our Lord God Almighty do the judging while we follow His laws.
Good luck and peace to all.
WINNIE ATALIG
San Jose, Tinian
