Fitial supports a legislative amendment to the law in order to work on preserving the commonwealth’s access to vital China and Russia tourism markets.
Fitial said the CNMI is working with Guam to achieve this result.
He said without continued access to these markets, the commonwealth will lose about 20 percent of its visitor industry.
“We cannot give up on these markets,” said Fitial.
He believes that Guam Congresswoman Madeleine Bodallo, the chairwoman of the House Subcommittee on Insular Affairs Oceans and Wildlife, and most of its members support this objective and will make every effort to persuade the Department of Homeland Security to change its regulations so that the CNMI-Guam joint visa waiver program will include China and Russia.
Fitial continues to urge Sablan to support this effort to avoid further damage to the commonwealth’s economy.
In the past, Sablan has expressed strong support for maintaining these markets.
Fitial is also concerned about the Department of Homeland Security’s ability to implement its responsibilities under U.S. P.L. 110-229 by Nov. 28.
Fitial noted that the department’s witness at the May 19 subcommittee hearing did not provide specific information regarding the department’s implementation plans — including such basic facts as the source of the necessary funding.
The governor and Sablan met after the hearing and agreed to ask the subcommittee to send a set of detailed questions to the department regarding its plans for funding and staffing the six ports of entry in the commonwealth after Nov. 28.
The governor does not know whether these questions were in fact submitted by the subcommittee to DHS.
Until more information is available about the department’s plans, the governor believes it is premature to conclude that a delay is unnecessary.
On Nov. 28, all CNMI laws regarding immigration will be preempted by U.S. P.L. 110-229.
