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‘Stateless children’ a non-partisan issue
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Posted on Jun 04 2004
The issue on ‘stateless children’ in the CNMI is being addressed from all fronts and beyond party lines, resulting so far in a more favorable and “positive reception” in Washington D.C., according to the House leadership.
“This is a non-partisan issue,” said House leadership spokesman Charles Reyes yesterday, citing reports that the issue’s presentation by the administration was well-received in Washington D.C.
Gov. Juan N. Babauta, who flew to D.C. over the weekend, hand-carried a verified list of CNMI “stateless children” to Indiana Rep. Dan Burton, who has pledged his support by introducing a bill that seeks to grant the group U.S. citizenship.
“We’ve received information that there’s a positive reception [by federal authorities],” Reyes said.
He said the governor has acknowledged House Speaker Benigno R. Fitial’s role in getting support for the “stateless children.”
“The speaker has been actively involved here such as getting hold of people to help us lobby in the U.S. Congress,” he said.
Both the Governor’s Office and the Legislature initiated a registration process for “stateless” individuals for submission to Congress.
There are some 200 “stateless” individuals in the Northern Marianas.
Burton, chairman of House Sub-Committee on Human Rights, Welfare and Wellness, earlier asked for a comprehensive and accurate list of qualified individuals to be included in his proposed legislation.
Individuals who are considered “stateless persons” are those who were born and raised in the Commonwealth between Jan. 1, 1974, and Nov. 4, 1986, who were born to non-U.S. citizens.
