The regulation was published in Oct. 2009, but the governor went to court and blocked its issuance.
Rep. Ramon S. Basa, Covenant-Saipan and author of House Resolution 17-56, said Sablan’s measure has “wide-ranging” implications economically, politically and socially.
But when the House was to act on the resolution following a lengthy discussion, Vice Speaker Felicidad T. Ogumoro, Covenant-Saipan, called for a “big recess.”
After a closed-door meeting for almost half an hour, Speaker Eli D. Cabrera, R-Saipan, called for another recess until 9 a.m. of Friday.
Variety learned that the governor wanted the House to adopt the resolution in time for the U.S. House subcommittee hearing regarding CNMI immigration issues on Thursday.
When the CNMI House members resumed their session on Friday morning, they voted unanimously to withdraw H.R. 17-56.
Rep. Edmund S. Villagomez, Covenant-Saipan, said they had different reasons not to act on the resolution.
Many members had not reviewed it, he added.
He also admitted that some members have “many constituents who support” Sablan’s measure.
Another member of the House leadership, Rep. Fredrick P. Deleon Guerrero, Ind.-Saipan, said instead of a resolution, they can just send their own written testimony to the U.S. Congress.
The CNMI Senate supports Kilili’s bill but would like to offer amendments.
In his written testimony, Senate President Paul A. Manglona, Ind.-Rota, said the Senate wants the following groups of nonresidents granted a special status similar to what citizens of the Freely Associated States enjoy:
• Those born here from Jan. 1, 1974 to Jan. 9, 1979;
• Those granted permanent residency by the CNMI government; and
• Those married to U.S. citizens.
FAS citizens can work and travel freely to the U.S. and its territories.
For those who became immediate relatives of U.S. citizens as of May 8, 2008 “notwithstanding the age” of the U.S. citizens, the Senate said they should get CNMI-only status as proposed by Kilili, provided that they have been living in the commonealth for five years prior to May 8, 2008.
If “practical,” Manglona added, the Senate also requests that H.R. 1466 grant improve status to guest workers who have been legally residing here for 10 years.
Manglona at the same time said the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ failure to publish the final interim rules for guest workers is a violation of the federalization law “and an example of continued lack of respect and candor by the agencies of the Department of Homeland Security.”
He said the CNMI and businesses here “should not be held hostage” by the department’s inability to carry out its mandate in a timely manner.
Manglona said the four months left for the regulations to take effect are insufficient for employees and employers to prepare for the coming changes.
He requests U.S. lawmakers amend the federalization law to extend the employment authorization grandfather provision to another year.
This, he added, will allow nonresident workers to continue working here under the umbrella permit for another year after Nov. 27, 2011.
Manglona also noted the “rude and abrasive” conduct of U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers assigned to the Saipan airport.
These officers, he added, “lack professionalism” and are adversely affecting the CNMI’s only industry — tourism.
