“While I acknowledge that there is still a need for foreign workers in the Northern Marianas, I cannot see a need for 22,417 —an increase of 6,159 workers — especially with the continuing high unemployment among U.S. citizens here.
“The regulations were supposed to begin phasing out nonresident workers to encourage businesses to hire U.S. citizen residents.
“I am heartbroken thinking of people who need jobs to support their families. Yet they will continue to face competition for the few jobs we have from nonresidents who are often willing to work for less,” Sablan said.
“I recognize that there is a need for U.S. citizen workers to be trained in the skills our businesses need; and I will continue to advocate for that training. But I cannot believe that the Department of Homeland Security would suggest that there is no need for a coherent program to implement the phase-out in the number of foreign workers in the Northern Marianas.
“The Consolidated Natural Resources Act mandates a reduction in our reliance on foreign workers and mandates a federal effort to fill the labor force with local workers. I am committed to this and will continue to fight to ensure that this ultimate goal is achieved,” Sablan added.
The Consolidated Natural Resources Act, which gave the federal government control of immigration in the Northern Marianas, aimed to phase out nonresident contract workers and provide more opportunities for locals to work. The phase-out is supposed to occur over a five year period ending in 2014.
The regulations were expected to implement the phase-out, while still assuring enough nonresident workers to keep the economy going. Instead, the regulations permit 22,417 foreign workers, even though the Department of the Interior estimated in 2009 that there were only 16,258 foreign workers in the CNMI.
“It is difficult to interpret permits for an additional 6,159 workers as a phase-out,” said Sablan.
“There is nothing in these regulations to encourage businesses to begin replacing nonresident workers with U.S. citizens, which should really be the goal.”
Sablan said he would continue to encourage the Department of Homeland Security and local businesses to work together to reduce dependence on foreign workers.
He also promised to continue to work hard in Congress with Republican and Democratic colleagues to bring more federal funding to the Northern Marianas to stimulate the economy and create more jobs.
