A new bill extending federal immigration laws to the CNMI was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday evening (Thursday morning on Saipan).
H.R. 3079, or the Northern Mariana Islands Immigration, Security, and Labor Act (or ISLA), is similar to S. 1634, introduced by Hawaii Sen. Daniel Akaka.
Like the Senate bill, ISLA would subject the CNMI to federal immigration laws. It would also create a federally-controlled guest worker program, establish visa programs for visitors and investors, allow certain long-time CNMI guest workers a non-immigrant resident status, and provide technical assistance to develop CNMI's economy.
But the difference is, the House bill proposes to provide the Commonwealth with a non-voting delegate to the U.S. House.
U.S. Virgin Islands Rep. Donna Christensen, the bill's author, said H.R. 3079 would bring stability and security to the CNMI and the Marianas region.
“This bill makes a leap in that direction.” Christensen said.
“There is real opportunity here to address past abuses and unpredictable immigration policies that did not result in a healthy and productive CNMI economy. The U.S. military's reinvestment in the Marianas region should make everyone want to make these islands secure,” said Christensen, who is the chairwoman of the House Subcommittee on Insular Affairs.
She also said her bill would provide the Northern Marianas with a much-needed voice in the U.S. Congress.
Currently, the CNMI is the only U.S. jurisdiction without representation in Congress.
The NMI Delegate Act, which appears as Title II of Christensen's bill, is similar to legislation passed by the House Natural Resources Committee in two previous Congresses.
“I have always supported the CNMI having a voice in Congress. It is shameful that the CNMI is the only U.S. jurisdiction without representation in Congress,” Christensen said. “This issue is simple. It's about equality and the people of the CNMI should be equally represented alongside their sister territories.”
Natural Resources Committee chair Nick J. Rahall (D-WV), who joined Christensen as a cosponsor of H.R. 3079, said, “I have full faith that the subcommittee, led by chairwoman Christensen, will work to improve the conditions in the CNMI. For far too long, congressional concerns over CNMI immigration policies and abuse of guest workers have lingered. It is time to correct this and work to build a healthy CNMI, which in turn will create greater opportunities for residents and non-residents alike.”
Both Rahall and Christensen met with Gov. Benigno R. Fitial last week.
Interior deputy assistant secretary David B. Cohen welcomed the filing of the bill. “We're very pleased that [Christensen] has taken this step. And we've always been pushing for the CNMI to have a delegate in Congress.”
CNMI Resident Rep. Pete A. Tenorio, who could benefit from H.R. 3079, said, “I am very, very grateful that Congress continued to be interested for the CNMI to participate as full members of the U.S. political family.”
On Saipan, press secretary Charles P. Reyes Jr. welcomed the introduction of the delegate bill. However, he said it was not a fair trade off for removing the local government's immigration control.
“The most important thing right now-for the government, the businesses, and the workers-is our economic fate. We may have a voice in Congress, but what good would it be if the people suffered because of the serious economic consequences of a federal takeover? It would not be worth the tradeoff,” Reyes said.
Christensen's subcommittee on insular affairs will hold a field hearing on on H.R. 3079 on Saipan next month during the August recess. (With Jude Marfil-Schwalbach)
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