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Dekada members assemble to welcome Stayman
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Posted on Mar 22 2005
Dekada members who are aspiring for a congressional grant of U.S. permanent residency will assemble today outside the Federal Building in Garapan to welcome visiting U.S. Senate staffers, including former Office of Insular Affairs director Allen Stayman.
Dekada president Bonifacio Sagana said his group will try to invite Stayman to speak before its members if the former OIA director is willing.
“We will welcome Stayman,” said Sagana.
Dekada lawyer Stephen Woodruff noted that Stayman was very vocal about favoring federalization of the CNMI’s immigration and minimum wage policies during his tenure with the OIA.
Sagana expressed optimism that Stayman would support the cause of Dekada, quoting news reports published during the directorship of the official.
During Stayman’s stint with the OIA, the U.S. Congress-created Commission on Immigration Reform recommended the grating of permanent residency—also known as “green card”—to qualified alien workers.
News reports during Stayman’s OIA stint said the official wanted special attention to the CNMI’s immigration policies.
“Having embarked on an immigration program that has brought thousands of foreign contract workers to the Northern Marianas…CNMI must come to grips with the presence of long-term residents who have no political rights,” the commission reportedly stated in its recommendation. “It is better to have aliens entering as permanent residents and becoming citizens rather than becoming a long-term underclass.”
The commission had reportedly recommended the granting of green cards to those who meet the standards in U.S. immigration law. Federal immigration rules allow aliens lawfully living in the United States for five consecutive years to apply for permanent residency status.
Stayman and other Senate staffers are scheduled to arrive on Saipan today for a fact-finding mission on various issues. Dekada’s lawyer said he would arrange for a possible meeting with Stayman and his group.
Dekada is composed of alien workers who have lawfully resided in the Commonwealth for at least five consecutive years. Its members have reached at least 3,000, some of whom have children who are U.S. citizens.
