He even asked überlobbyist Jack Abramoff to make sure that the NMI Republican gubernatorial candidate, then-Washington Rep. John Babauta, would not take “credit” for securing U.S. passports for these kids whose parents were nonresident workers.
But according to the NMI’s lawyer during the political status negotiations with the feds, Howard Willens, the Covenant did not provide U.S. citizenship for these children. The U.S. Congress must pass a law to make them Americans. However, the liberal Ninth Circuit Court, which also upheld the land alienation provisions of the Covenant, decided to ignore it in ruling that these “stateless” kids should be U.S. citizens. Fitial and Babauta then successfully lobbied the Bush White House not to appeal the ruling. The kids were already of voting age. Most, if not all, voted in 2005 for Fitial who won by an 84-vote margin. Uncle Ben, one of the kids later told me, made it happen. He fought for them.
Perhaps the governor did it out of the goodness of his heart. Perhaps he did not want to break up families of people who had been living here for years and years. Perhaps the realization that these kids would be eligible to vote also persuaded him to support their cause.
Back then, in any case, he didn’t talk about the “disenfranchisement” of locals once these over 300 “aliens” — and consequently, their parents — were granted not just permanent residency, but American citizenship. Instead he talked about how these individuals were already part of the community. He noted their contributions which he said were valued and appreciated by the CNMI.
He said nothing about how nonresidents had already outnumbered locals and were raising families here because of the policies he championed and implemented.
Now he opposes Congressman Kilili’s bill, H.R. 1466, which proposes to grant CNMI-only status to certain nonresidents, including those whose U.S. citizen children were born here. To qualify, these nonresidents “must still be in lawful status and in full compliance with the standards of the Immigration and Nationality Act.” The bill “provides no new social benefits and adds no new societal costs.” One of its aims is economic: to “stabilize the population and the workforce.”
The governor says H.R. 1466 will threaten local political dominance. But that boat has already left the dock. Under the CNMI laws he introduced, “temporary” nonresident workers were allowed to stay here as long as they were needed by their employers. They now have families here and kids, lots of kids. And a lot of these kids are now voters. A lot more will join the roster of voters in the coming years.
Now the governor grumbles about the consequences of his policies.
Now he resorts to demagoguery and race-baiting.
And over what? Over a bill that will basically extend the umbrella permit of some nonresidents — the same umbrella permit he granted to all nonresidents two years ago. The governor, moreover, is still in favor of extending the stay of nonresident workers. In fact, he wants a return to those good old days when the governor could allow anyone and his neighbors to enter the CNMI. He is still in favor of economic and immigration policies that have opened the floodgates to “aliens” and ensured that these islands will be a multi-cultural community forever.
Yet he now tells locals that Kilili’s bill is “anti-local” and that the governor — the author of laws that brought in garment manufacturers and thousands of nonresident workers; the governor under whose watch the CNMI lost control over minimum wage and immigration — is pro-local.
He is lying through his teeth and is probably not even aware of it.
The governor started the fire. Now he’s complaining that it burned down his house.
Contrary to what the governor’s hacks are saying, Kilili discussed his bill with CNMI officials, including the pro-administration House members who suddenly had amnesia last week, and other local stakeholders. The governor even highlighted the bill in one of his attack ads against Kilili last November.
What the governor failed to mention is that the parents of U.S. citizen children will be petitioned sooner or later whether they remain here or not.
Kilili’s bill merely allows these parents to continue to perform work that no else wants to do. These are not bums. These are workers. Some may be unemployed but not because they don’t want to work, but because those who want to employ them can’t due to the uncertainty and/or confusion over what rules apply. Granting them CNMI-only status means they can again work as farmers, construction workers, houseworkers, cleaners, caretakers, waiters, waitresses, kitchen helpers, etc. Local families and local businesses will continue to have a reliable and stable pool of workers.
Advocates of guest workers criticize Kilili’s bill for not doing enough. That’s not Kilili’s fault. If more could be done, not he alone but other politicians would have done so already.
But right now, the political conditions in the CNMI and the U.S. allow for H.R. 1466 only. Kilili has done his homework. Not surprisingly, only the governor and his minions oppose the bill. The pro-administration House couldn’t event adopt a nonbinding resolution drafted by the governor’s office. The lt. governor said the bill “has a lot of merit.” The Senate actually supported it.
These politicians, most of whom are seeking reelection or higher office, already know which way the wind is blowing.
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