“We discussed the need for legislation to address permanent residency status for all of the legal, long-term foreign resident workers. We also stressed the urgent need to grant parole-in-place to every legal worker until the Congress takes appropriate action in response to the DOI Report and mandate from the CNRA,” Doromal stated on her blogspot Unheard No More.
The former Rota teacher was with Syed during the meeting and is helping coordinate his visit in the U.S.
She said Interior officials generously offered to try to set up meetings with other federal agencies.
Last week, Syed reported to Variety his meeting with the Bangladeshi, Chinese and Filipino communities in New York.
These groups, he said, have expressed support for the cause of long-term nonresident workers in the CNMI who are seeking improved immigration status.
“They will do whatever they can in their own way,” he said, referring to the Asian-American groups.
Although he had a fever upon his arrival in the states, Syed said he managed to meet with several groups, including other human rights advocates.
In Washington, D.C., Doromal said they visited congressional offices.
“One meeting was especially positive. We explained the looming Nov. 27th deadline and the urgent need for parole-in-place until such time as permanent status for all legal, long-term foreign resident workers is established,” she said.
Doromal said they received an email from a staffer stating that the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus would be meeting today with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.
The CNMI nonresident worker’s issue would be raised in the meeting, she added.
“We hope that she will hear the pleas of the foreign workers and their families,” she said, referring to Napolitano.
Last June, she said she delivered her letter to President Obama and a letter from the Syed requesting the White House to take administrative action to “protect” the 16,000 legal foreign workers in the CNMI.
Meanwhile, Jun Concillado, United Workers Movement vice president, is again urging guest workers not to be misguided by wrong information.
“We are working hard and are still hoping that parole-in-place be granted to all legal aliens in the CNMI before Nov. 27, 2011,” he said. CNMI umbrella permits expire on that day.
He urged all legal alien workers to remain united and speak with one voice.
Concillado said they have already informed U.S. officials and people in the states who are sympathetic to the nonresident workers’ plight about the “real situation” of all alien workers in the CNMI.
