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‘Bill’s passage a big victory’
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Posted on Apr 11 2008
Federalization proponents said yesterday that the U.S. Senate’s passage of federalization bill is a big victory for guest workers and human rights advocates.
Dekada counsel Stephen Woodruff said they are pleased that the U.S. Senate has finally passed the legislation that includes the extension of the federal immigration law to the CNMI.
“Of course that’s just one step but it’s an important step. We’re one step closer to crossing the federalization hurdle,” Woodruff said.
Senate bill 2739 will extend U.S. immigration laws to the CNMI, establish a federally administered guest worker program on the islands, and allow the CNMI to have a non-voting representative in Congress.
Woodruff said that the federalization hurdle is an obstacle to the CNMI getting its economy back on track because of uncertainty about the federalization issue and the debates that take away efforts to rebuild the economy.
“Once the president signs this legislation into law, then we will be cross the federalization hurdle and we can all work together to make federalization work for the CNMI,” he said.
In an e-mail to Saipan Tribune, human rights advocate Wendy Doromal said the Senate’s action was a huge victory “for every advocate and person who has fought for decades to see an end to labor and human rights abuses” in the CNMI, and to establish a just and democratic labor and immigration system in the Commonwealth.
Dekada president Bonifacio Sagana said they are very happy because the passage provides them a small measure of progress in what they have been fighting for.
Sagana said their group’s position has not changed, which is for federalization.
“I believe that the passage will pave the way for big changes, especially toward fair and just labor and immigration for the good of the workers,” he said in Tagalog.
Human Dignity Movement president Jerry Custodio said they are very happy and grateful to God, members of the U.S. Congress, human rights groups, and their supporters.
Custodio particularly mentioned Doromal who according to him, has fought for workers’ rights in the CNMI for two decades now.
He invites everyone to attend Sunday’s Thanksgiving Mass at 8am at the Kristo Rai Church in Garapan.
