Marie Thérèse Sebrechts, regional media manager of the department’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, said they will come to the CNMI to explain the process of transitioning the islands’ immigration system from local to federal control before the mandated effective date.
“U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will definitely send some staff to CNMI once the proposed regulations for transitional workers and investor visas are published. We will be onsite to explain the proposed regulations and the comment process before the regulations are finalized. The dates will depend upon the publication date in the Federal Register,” said Sebrechts in an e-mail to the Variety.
USCIS has opened an office on Saipan last March.
U.S. Public Law 110-229, or the U.S. Consolidated and Natural Resources Act of 2008, mandates DHS to run the islands’ immigration system as early as June 1, 2009 but Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano decided to approve a 180-day delay.
Between now and Nov. 28, DHS and other relevant federal agencies must come up with specific implementing regulations that will govern the presence of foreign workers and investors in the CNMI.
There were approximately over 16,000 documented foreign workers in the CNMI as of last year and more than 1,000 foreign investors.
David Gulick, regional director of the USCIS in Hawaii, said their goal is to have the regulations published in the Federal Register 60 days before Nov. 28.
He said a massive public information campaign will be held before the final regulations are drafted to ensure that all issues are addressed.
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial has sued the federal government to prevent the implementation of the federalization law.
The federal court in Washington, D.C. is expected to issue a ruling soon.
