From July 7 to 18, Figir and Congressman Joseph J. Urusemal of the Committee on Education started their informal public awareness trip throughout the outlying islands of the nation where they reviewed with the citizens the immigration privileges as contained in the Compact of Free Association with the United States and addressed the issue of human trafficking.
The first issue they addressed was the necessity for people to understand the immigration privileges the FSM citizens enjoy under the Compact.
Citizens of the FSM may enter the U.S. to engage in lawful employment and for education. Education gained in the U.S. was to help people of the FSM to gain the knowledge and skills to promote the development of its states and the FSM as a whole.
The individuals residing in the U.S. for employment should work and gain a skill for themselves. Individuals who benefited from education and training in the U.S. should return to the FSM and give back to their country in the future. Both lawmakers emphasized that any FSM citizens living in the U.S. should be able to support themselves.
Figir and Urusemal stated that all FSM citizens residing in the U.S. should also be productive, educated and law-abiding during their stay.
Parents were asked to encourage their sons and daughters studying in the United States to concentrate on their studies and complete their educations.
In the past students have left their studies to pursue employment but have ultimately not earned enough money working to remain in the U.S. independently.
Figir and Urusemal also addressed human trafficking. They stressed that human trafficking, and the conditions that victims are subjected to, such as forced labor, including prostitution, are taken very seriously by the national government leaders.
It was explained that the opportunity to exploit individuals in this way often arises when people seek employment overseas.
Victims are often promised higher salaries for jobs such as planting and harvesting fruit and vegetables when in reality the hours worked are much longer and the working conditions very poor. It was advised that individuals being recruited to work abroad be cautious when accepting positions and check the references of any potential employer.
