Thomas S. Winkowski, assistant commissioner for Office of Field Operations of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which is under the DHS, said their visit is aimed at making sure that everything is prepared before the takeover takes place.
“I want to be assured that come Nov. 28 we are up and running and we cannot do that if we’re just sitting in Washington, D.C. So we have to be here,” Winkowski told reporters in a brief interview after their meeting with local lawmakers.
Winkowski said a working group will be formed between DHS and the CNMI government to discuss issues that may arise as the transition phase nears and unfolds.
He said the 53 CBP/DHS personnel will mostly be assigned on Saipan.
They will replace personnel assigned to the local Division of Immigration, which will be “dismantled” on Nov. 28.
Winkowski said the 53 will work on a rotation basis.
“As we get closer to the implementation, there’s more and more work that needs to be done,” he said.
The 53 CBP/DHS personnel will serve as immigration and customs officers.
“We need to make sure that we have enough staff for the workload that they would do,” he said.
Jerry Aevermann, assistant port director of CBP for Guam, is temporarily assigned to lead the incoming DHS personnel on Saipan.
Winkowski described Aevermann “as one of our best in Customs and Border Protection.”
Charles Armstrong, assistant commissioner for the Office of Information Technology of CBP; David Morrell, executive director, Office of Field Operations, Mission Support; Cheryl Peters, program manager, Office of Field Operations; Richard Vigna, director of Field Operations, San Francisco; Bruce Murley, Area Port Director, Honolulu, Hawaii; and Rocky Miner, port director of Guam, who are also with Winkowski, met with Gov. Benigno R. Fitial and representatives of the Commonwealth Ports Authority, the Attorney General’s Office, CNMI Customs, CNMI Immigration, and the Department of Labor.
Winkowski said they had a “productive meeting.”
Fitial said he is pleased that the meeting took place because it allowed them to have extensive discussion about the need to find positions for the local immigration personnel who will lose their jobs.
Winkowski promised to review the CNMI’s suggestions.
During the meeting, he reaffirmed their readiness to administer their new responsibilities.
He said they can bring in experienced immigration officials from Guam and Hawaii and assigning to the CNMI many other officials over the next year or two on a temporary basis.
