The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services made the announcement Thursday. Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan received early word of the USCIS decision and sent thank you notes to the USCIS officials with whom he has been working to solve the caregiver problem.
“I think I speak for everyone whose family depends on having an in-home caregiver, when I say thank you to Secretary Janet Napolitano and to all of her staff who worked on this issue,” Kilili said.
USCIS announced that in-home caregivers may apply for humanitarian parole if they are required for extraordinary medical or special needs reasons and meet other conditions for eligibility. The caregiver, not the family, must apply for parole.
Sablan said that the decision to make caregivers eligible for parole was a direct result of USCIS outreach efforts in September.
“USCIS Director Mayorkas made the decision to expend considerable resources of time and money to send a team out to the Marianas for almost three weeks to explain the new CW worker regulations,” Sablan recalled.
“They came to answer questions. But they also listened. And they learned about the caregiver problem from those affected. That personal contact made a difference in how the agency thought about this problem and led to today’s decision.”
Sablan hosted a meeting at the congressional office for USCIS staff and families who needed caregivers on September 22.
Sablan participated by videoconference from Washington.
“Acting Deputy Counsel Phil Busch was there, and outreach team members Marie Sebrechtsl and Darlene Kutara. I could see that everyone was affected by the situation these families were in.
“The USCIS officials ended that meeting promising to look seriously into providing parole for caregivers.
“Today the agency was able to do as promised.
“USCIS has shown that it is able to be flexible during the transition period and respond to the specific situation in the Northern Marianas.”
Sablan added, “Now I urge every family that employs a caregiver for medical reasons or for other special needs to get that caregiver to apply for parole.
“Time is short: November 27 is just one month away.”
The USCIS announcement, which includes guidelines and instructions for applying for caregiver parole, is available at the congressional offices on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.
Caregivers who have already filed for parole do not have to reapply as a result of today’s announcement. Applications already filed will remain active.
