House Bill 17-20, which Rep. Antonio P. Sablan and three other Saipan Republicans sponsored, returns to the House of Representatives.
The bill, which the House passed on Feb. 23, seeks to help 14 more local immigration personnel get employed in the public sector after their division was dismantled following the federalization of the islands’ immigration system on Nov. 28, 2009.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security now runs the islands’ borders and immigration system.
Except for the 14, the majority of the former local immigration personnel have successfully transferred to the Division of Customs, the Department of Corrections, the U.S. Passport Office and the Attorney General’s Office.
“However, 14 employees remain unemployed and displaced at this time, Therefore, it is the purpose of this act to ensure that the affected employees from the Division of Immigration are not burdened by the implementation of Public Law 110-229,” the bill states.
Majority of the 14 are civil service employees whose employment in the public sector is supposed to be protected.
However, some of them said they are having difficulty getting employed in different public offices despite their civil service status.
Last week, the group went to the House to seek lawmakers’ help to further extend beyond Feb. 28 their temporary jobs at different public agencies.
If H.B. 17-20 is enacted into law, the 14 will be offered lateral transfer within other public offices.
“Notwithstanding any law or provision to the contrary, current personnel of the Division of Immigration shall be offered a lateral transfer within other agencies or departments of the commonwealth government to positions for which they are qualified,” the bill reads.
“Employees shall retain their current salary levels and benefits. The governor, through the Office of Personnel Management, shall administer this transfer,” it added.
