Janet Curioso, the group leader, said they are not using their children as a “front” to get an improved immigration status as claimed by Cruz.
Curioso said they only wanted the federal government to “guide them” on what to do with their children with disabilities if the parents are forced to go home because of the non-renewal of their work contracts.
Cruz said guest workers have been employing “different schemes,” including having children born here, just to remain in the CNMI.
“They are important to us and we don’t take advantage of their disabilities,” Curioso said, referring to the children with disabilities. “They are special children and it’s ruthless of us to use them.”
She said, “Maybe if Mr. Cruz has disabilities he could understand what it feels to have a special child. He should think first before issuing such statements because our children understand — they too have a heart and they are hurt.”
Curioso said Cruz should not claim that he alone speaks for the indigenous people because, she added, many local people have compassion for special children.
She said it is Cruz who is seeking publicity by commenting on the issues, particularly those involving guest workers.
The CNMI Descents for Self-Government and Indigenous Rights, Curioso said, sympathize with the plight of guest workers with U.S. citizen children with disabilities.
Its adviser and spokesman, former Speaker Oscar C. Rasa, earlier said that the federal government should consider the concerns of these parents.
According to Rasa, “All indigenous groups are culturally and religiously inclined to support anything that requires compassion and this is the case where we have to demonstrate to help when help is needed.”
