Alam was among the children of guest workers who participated in the letter writing campaign initiated by human rights advocate Wendy Doromal at the Kilili Beach Pavilion on Sunday.
Escorted by his parents, Manzurul Alam and Touhila Alam, and brother Masrur Alam, Mobtasim Alam said he wrote the letter because “I want my parents to stay in the CNMI” where they have lived for over 16 years.
More than 800 letters from guest workers and supporters were collected on Saipan, according to Coalition of United Workers, NMI president Rene Reyes, one of the event’s organizers.
Reyes said they also received 300 letters from Rota and 360 from Tinian, on top of the 1,200 letters previously sent to Doromal who is now based in Flordia.
Human Dignity Movement officers and members also joined the campaign on Saipan.
Rabby Syed, United Workers Movement, NMI president, said the letter writers are “confused and scared,” and they fear that they will be separated from their families.
Another official of the movement, Simeon Sin, said he supported the letter writing campaign but opposed to the CNMI government’s request for a 180-day delay of the implementation of the federalization law.
The law will take effect on June 1.
“It will only make people worry,” Sin said. “It would be better if they just implement it on schedule so the people affected can cope with whatever the consequences are,” Sin said.
Muslim Community in Saipan president Monwar Hossain said long-term, legitimate guest workers in the CNMI deserve to have their immigration status improved.
He noted that the federal government once granted amnesty to thousands of illegal aliens in the states.
Gubernatorial candidate Juan N. Babauta dropped by at the Kilili Beach Pavilion and talked with the guest workers.
As Washington representative, Babauta recalled how he stood up for garment workers who were being abused.
The former governor said he would always respect human dignity.
Reyes said their group is non-political and whatever program they will undertake should not be construed as politically motivated.
He said their letter writing campaign’s goal is to inform the U.S. Department of Homeland regarding the sentiments of long-term guest workers in the CNMI.
