Press Secretary Charles Reyes Jr. said Fitial, who is still in Washington, D.C., met with Napolitano as scheduled on Sept. 22.
In a statement, Fitial said Napolitano personally assured her that DHS is committed to helping the CNMI find a solution to ensure the smooth entry of Russian and Chinese tourists to the islands even if local immigration is taken over by the federal government.
“I had a very positive meeting with Secretary Napolitano, and she assured me that she was personally committed to finding a solution to the commonwealth’s problem regarding the exclusion of China and Russia from the list of countries that could participate in the joint visa waiver program authorized by P.L. 110-229. She made it clear that she is aware of the commonwealth’s precarious economic situation and its reliance on the tourism industry,” the governor said.
