Napolitano told the two territorial delegates that DHS would be ready for implementation of U.S. Public Law 110-229 on Nov. 28 and that she had no more statutory authority to delay.
Published visa waiver regulations will not be changed before Nov. 28, Napolitano said, although she did hold out the hope of some creative solution to allow Chinese and Russian tourists into the Marianas.
“I appreciate that Secretary Napolitano took the time to have a meeting specifically on the implementation of Public Law 110-229,” said Sablan. “And I appreciate that Chairman Nick Rahall and Chairwoman Bordallo were able to arrange the meeting.”
But, he added, “I do not think we are any farther along with the department. Secretary Napolitano said she ‘gets it’ that losing Russian and Chinese tourists will be a significant blow to the CNMI economy.”
According to Sablan, “I told her that losing Chinese tourists is 100 percent of Tinian’s economy and will mean an end to the inter-island ferry that Tinian people depend on.”
Napolitano said DHS will be ready to stand up the borders on Nov. 28.
“I told her, respectfully, I disagree,” Sablan said.
He provided Napolitano with a letter that reiterated many of his concerns about implementation, including DHS continued silence on the rights of CNMI permanent residents and of immediate relatives of U.S. citizens to come and go from the Commonwealth.
Operational readiness is also a concern for Sablan.
“DHS lacks sufficient funding. They have no finalized arrangement for space at the ports. There does not appear to be any equipment installed or communication lines; no Customs and Border Patrol personnel are present. And there are only 68 days until Nov. 28.”
Sablan did tell Napolitano that recently issued investor regulations were praiseworthy.
“The E-2 regulations will require that all present investors demonstrate that they have legitimate businesses in the Northern Marianas,” Sablan said.
“I also find it interesting that these investor regulations will even waive fees for investors. This is what we need to do for other people, IRs and permanent residents, who also have made a long-term commitment to the Northern Marianas and cannot easily afford the fees for U.S. visas.”
