He said he is optimistic that the rules governing the hiring of nonresident workers under the federalization law will be released before Nov. 2011, when the CNMI umbrella permits expire, Gulick told reporters yesterday.
“We are aware of the fears. We are aware of them. I would hope people would recognize what we have done,” Gulick added. “We do not intend to get rid of everybody,” he said, referring to nonresidents in the CNMI.
Gulick said he has a “dedicated team working in the CNMI and doing what they can.”
A year after the federalization of CNMI immigration, Gulick said educating the people about federal immigration law has become “more challenging.”
Gulick reminded non-umbrella permit holders to apply for a parole in place within 90 days before the Nov. 2011 expiration of the CNMI-issued umbrella permits.
He said the issuance of umbrella permits to foreign workers was a “very generous act of the CNMI government.”
Gulick at the same time said nonresidents may want to seek advice from immigration lawyers.
U.S. immigration law will be fully implemented in the CNMI by Dec. 31, 2014.
When told that some USCIS personnel on Saipan have been rude to those seeking assistance, Gulick encouraged those with complaints to contact him or USCIS Guam and the CNMI field office director Walter L. Haith and recount the “specific words and specific actions that were done on them.”
