Sablan, Ind.-MP, made the clarification following the Saipan Tribune’s story on Wednesday in which he was quoted as saying that discussions were ongoing to grant aliens with U.S. citizen children permanent immigration status.
According to the congressman, what he said was that CNMI permanent residency status may be offered to the foreign spouses of U.S. citizens or those who have “immediate relative” status so they could stay on the islands.
The foreign spouses of U.S. citizens also have the option to convert their status to U.S. permanent residency.
This proposal may also include nonresidents granted permanent residency status by the CNMI government in the 1980s, and the spouses of Freely Associated State citizens — Palau, the Marshalls, Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei and Yap.
But Sablan said the fate of long-term guest workers will depend on what the U.S. Department of the Interior will recommend and whether the U.S. Congress will accept it and pass the required legislation.
“The U.S. Department of the Interior will make the recommendation about the long-term guest workers this May,” said Sablan.
During his town hall meeting at Northern Marianas College on Tuesday night, Sablan was asked if it he would support a move to send all foreign workers back to their home countries.
Sablan said he does not agree with the idea which, he added, will be detrimental to the CNMI economy.
He said the U.S. Congress is ready to address the CNMI’s limited labor pool but not every foreign worker will be accommodated.
The local people, he added, will be the priority for any job opportunities.
“Our people should not be competing with nonresidents for jobs,” said Sablan. (See related story on page 6)
Hiring nonresidents should be the last resort, he added.
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