At least a thousand individuals gathered yesterday for a show of unity in their quest for improved immigration status for long-term guest workers and other members of the community, with no less than the chairman of the powerful U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources, Rep. Nick Rahall II (D-WV), Rep. Donna M. Christensen (D-USVI), and the CNMI's first nonvoting delegate to the U.S. Congress, Rep. Gregorio “Kilili” C. Sablan (D-MP), in the audience.
Rahall, Christensen, and Sablan are three of the six congressional delegates who arrived here on Saturday to listen to the concerns of CNMI government officials, the business community, foreign workers, and other sectors about the CNMI's transition to federal immigration on Nov. 28.
“What I've heard here today has been some powerful testimony,” Rahall told the crowd which broke into applause.
Later, he said, “It's a lot more powerful here to hear than in a committee room in Washington, D.C.. Here, it really came home to me and I appreciate what I've heard today. And I appreciate each of you for being here, and most importantly, I appreciate each of you for sending Gregorio Kilili Sablan to the Congress of the United States.”
Unlike previous assemblies of guest workers, the participants yesterday did not carry any banner or streamer at the Garapan Fishing Base.
Besides Rahall, Sablan, and Christensen, also currently visiting Saipan are Rep. Eni Faleomavaega (D-AS), Rep. Madeleine Z. Bordallo (D-GU), and ranking member Rep. Henry Brown (R-SC).
In the days ahead, other federal officials will also be visiting Saipan, including staffers of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee led by Allen Stayman. Also visiting will be Tony Babauta, who was appointed as assistant secretary of the Interior for Insular Affairs.
Frustration
Rahall, in his impromptu speech, said as chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources, and every member, take seriously their “responsibility to the territorial possessions of the United states,” and “those constituencies that come within our purview.”
He also recognized the frustration by members of the CNMI community, referring to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's yet-to-be released CNMI-only transitional guest worker program and foreign investor/student program with a little over a hundred days before federalization.
“I heard people (speak) from their hearts. And I heard some frustration and probably frustration very well put because oftentimes the government, certainly our Department of Homeland Security do not move as quickly as we think they should and sometimes that delay gets to us as members of Congress as well,” Rahall said.
When Rahall, Sablan, and Christensen were already seated in a shaded area in front of the makeshift stage, one of the program hosts, Eleanor Loste, also called on Rep. Tina Sablan (Ind-Saipan) to join the delegates.
Sablan thanked his fellow delegates for visiting the CNMI.
Christensen, in a brief interview with reporters before leaving the Garapan Fishing Base, said the committee still has some work to be done, “to make sure that the status of people who are here, the guest workers, are secured, and for that reason, I felt I needed to come back.”
She was on Saipan two years ago for a field hearing on the federalization bill by the U.S. House Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, which she then chaired.
'Permanent residency'
Among those who shared their hope of a stable future for their families were 17-year-old Hazel Marie Doctor, a U.S. citizen whose parents have been guest workers in the CNMI for over 20 years, 14-year-old Julius Inocencio, a U.S. citizen with disability and born to foreign workers, and Moody Marie Binuya, a long-term foreign worker.
Like thousands of U.S. citizen children in the CNMI, Doctor and Inocencio said they fear being separated from their parents if they are unable to secure permits to remain in the CNMI under the federal transitional guest worker program which starts on Nov. 28.
“Relief-in the form of permanent status and pathway to citizenship-can only be provided by Congress,” Doctor said. “This is our home. Our families belong here. We implore you to do right by our families and pass legislation to grant our parents permanent residency status and a pathway to citizenship.”
Augustus Loste, president of the Coalition for Recognition, Equality and Advancement of American Minorities (CREAM), said “the fight is no longer with the local government; rather it is now one that can only be taken up in Washington, in the great halls of the U.S. Congress.” He said CREAM supports the quest for improved immigration status.
Rose Cuison Villazor, an associate professor of law at the Hofstra University School of Law, also submitted a 14-page written statement to the congressional delegation. She said the U.S. Congress should seriously consider and ultimately pass legislation granting permanent residency to the CNMI's guest workers and their non-U.S. citizen family members, and thereby address the undemocratic consequences and humanitarian problems that are and have been associated with the CNMI's guest worker program.
Critical juncture in CNMI history
The Rahall congressional delegation's arrival comes at a critical moment for the CNMI, which will be under transition to a federal immigration system by Nov. 28.
The CNMI economy has also been in a downward trend especially now that the once almighty garment industry is gone and the remaining industry-tourism-is on continuous decline.
The Chinese and Russian tourism markets, which the CNMI has also relied on for the past years, is expected to be almost wiped out when federalization comes because the joint Guam-CNMI visa waiver program excludes these countries.
And with only months before this critical juncture in the Commonwealth's history, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has yet to issue regulations that will govern the CNMI-only transitional worker program and the foreign investor and foreign student program.
Rep. Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (D-MP) said the imminent federalization of the CNMI immigration system has cast a cloud of uncertainty over the islands' future.
“Businesses and investors cannot make informed decisions, and thousands of individuals and families, who have made these islands home and whose lives are part of the fabric of our community, are in fear of separation.”
Sablan said fortunately Rahall and the congressional delegation “are here to listen.”
“Under Mr. Rahall's leadership, we will meet with people from all parts of our society-our elected officials, business people, U.S. citizens and foreigners alike-whose unity is important in making a stronger Commonwealth. I hope the congressional delegation will take away with them a stronger sense of mission to help our Commonwealth,” said Sablan in a statement upon his arrival.
Sablan accompanied the Rahall delegation which first visited American Samoa, then Palau, before flying out to Saipan. From here, they will visit Guam mainly to discuss the military buildup there.
“And I am sure that the congressional delegation will depart with an appreciation for our beautiful islands and our people's warm hospitality,” said Sablan.
Full schedule
About an hour after their arrival on Saturday, the congressional delegation met with the Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands at the Hyatt Regency Saipan. Hotels have been asking for the inclusion of the Chinese and Russian tourists from the joint Guam-CNMI visa waiver program, citing millions in losses if they stop coming here due to the added burden of securing a U.S. visa first.
Rep. Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan's family hosted an island-style dinner for the delegation after their meeting with HANMI.
Yesterday morning, the visiting U.S. lawmakers toured major tourist spots.
In the afternoon, three of them-Rahall, Sablan, and Christensen-met with concerned citizens mostly guest workers assembled at the Garapan Fishing Base.
From there, they proceeded to the American Memorial Park for a wreath-laying, followed by a dinner reception hosted by Gov. Benigno R. Fitial.
This morning, the delegation will have breakfast with members of the 16th CNMI Legislature. Senate Pres. Pete P. Reyes (R-Saipan), during a session on Friday, reminded senators of the breakfast meeting.
This will be followed by the Rahall delegation's courtesy call on Fitial in the governor's conference room on Capital Hill at 9:30am. After 30 minutes, the CNMI mayors will be joining the visitors and Fitial.
The Rahall delegation will also be meeting with federal officials in the governor's conference room. Among them will be those from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
At 12 noon, the congressional delegation will be meeting with the Saipan Chamber of Commerce, the largest business organization in the CNMI.
The Chamber, along with HANMI, has long been pressing the federal government to include the Chinese and Russian markets in the visa waiver program, citing millions in further losses to the economy if these two markets are gone. Japan and Korea, the CNMI's primary and secondary markets, respectively, have seen a drop in arrivals due to their own economic woes.
At 1pm, the congressional delegation will have a 20-minute press conference, before heading out to the airport for Guam for a three-day visit that will mainly tackle the military buildup there.
Rainy Saturday arrival
Rahall and the rest of the congressional delegation were transported from Palau to Saipan by a military plane that touched down at the international airport at 5pm on Saturday, delayed by about 30 minutes.
Staffers at the office of Rep. Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan led by chief of staff Robert Schwalbach, along with Sablan's wife Andrea and local law enforcement officers, were on hand to welcome the delegation.
The visiting U.S. lawmakers had to use yellow umbrellas provided by Hyatt Regency Saipan where they are billeted, because of the light rain that greeted them on the tarmac.
Rahall, in green shirt, was the first one to get off the plane, followed by Sablan in blue and white polo and carrying a backpack, waving to the people below.
Brown, in white polo, got out of the military plane third. Following him were Christensen, Faleomavaega, and Bordallo.
This is the first time that Rahall and Brown have been to Saipan, while the others have been here several times. Despite the rainy Saturday arrival, the dignitaries were all smiles as they got off the plane.
Capt. Pete Deleon Guerrero, commander of the CNMI Explosives Response Team, said eight traffic officers and 12 detectives were part of the security detail for the visiting lawmakers.
All vehicles entering the tarmac were inspected for explosives using a detection gadget and trained dog or K9.
Three members of the local print media came to take photos of the congressional delegation's arrival. The lawmakers were immediately hoisted to the waiting bus that took them to Hyatt Regency Saipan where they will be staying until today.
Home | Weather | Advertising | Classifieds | Subscription | Contact
Us | About Us | Archives
©2006 Saipan Tribune. All Rights Reserved
