and meet with local officials before the federalization of local immigration on Nov. 28.
“I welcome the visit of DHS officials and look forward to learning more about their plans to smoothly transition into federalization,” Gov. Benigno R. Fitial said in a statement.
Winkowski is scheduled to meet with local lawmakers on Thursday at 10:45 a.m.
Fraim Leon Guerrero, supervisor of Customs and Border Protection on Guam, asked CNMI legislators who will meet with Winkowski to submit their biographies.
Fitial is also meeting with Winkowski.
Press Secretary Charles P. Reyes Jr. said arriving with Winkowski on Wednesday evening are: Charles Armstrong, assistant commissioner for the Office of Information Technology of CBP; David Morrell, executive director, Office of Field Operations, Mission Support; Cheryl Peters, program manager, Office of Field Operations; Richard Vigna, director of Field Operations, San Francisco; Bruce Murley, Area Port Director, Honolulu, Hawaii; and Rocky Miner, port director of Guam.
Reyes said the group is also scheduled to hold talks with Commonwealth Ports Authority officials and tour the Saipan airport and immigration facilities.
“The DHS officials also plan to meet with federal agency representatives in the CNMI and assess island infrastructure facilities, including potential employee accommodations. Representatives of many of the concerned CNMI agencies will be present at the initial meeting between the visiting officials and Governor Fitial,” Reyes said.
Another DHS agency, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, is separately holding talks with the CNMI government regarding correctional facilities to be used for persons violating U.S. immigration law.
