He does not believe that “inputs” from local Immigration will be integrated with the federal rules.
“It’s their ball game,” he said, referring to the federal government. “They are making the rules and setting the date for implementation but we are ready to work with them.”
Asked about the upcoming meeting of the Joint Marianas Immigration Task Force, Grey said they have already prepared information about local immigration policies that will be submitted to the federal government.
The task force was created by the federal government to discuss the changes to the CNMI’s immigration system and the joint vise waiver program as mandated by U.S. Public Law 110-229.
Grey was supposed to attend the meeting but the U.S. Department of the Interior was not prepared yet to discuss Northern Marianas issues.
Grey said his office has not received any notice from federal authorities. “They haven’t sent us the agenda,” he added.
He said the meeting will take place within six months but they only have general information about the agenda and no specific items to discuss.
Interior will act as the “bridge agency” between the CNMI and Washington D.C. pending the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s taking over the local immigration system.
