Ex-stateless group to hold US citizenship celebration

Scores of former stateless individuals in the CNMI will be formally celebrating their American citizenship at the American Memorial Park’s amphitheater on Saturday.

During the celebration, the group will be soliciting donations of non-perishable food and books, which will be turned over to civic organizations.

The group’s leader, Randy Mendoza, said the celebration would be its first formal celebration after the U.S. State Department decided not to appeal a Court of Appeals ruling upholding American citizenship for the formerly called stateless persons. He said the Governor’s Office and the House of Representatives would sponsor the catering.

Mendoza said that there would be no need for a swearing in ceremony that the Governor’s Office had earlier planned for the group, since its members are considered natural-born—not naturalized—Americans.

Stateless persons are those born in the Northern Marianas between Jan. 9, 1978 to Nov. 4, 1986—the intervening period between the adoption of the Covenant and its ratification. The group numbers around 300.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit earlier overturned Saipan federal court’s ruling that declared that stateless persons are not U.S. citizens. Later, the appellate court denied the State Department’s request for a rehearing on the case.

The State Department, represented by the Justice Department in the case, did not appeal the appellate court ruling favoring the group, letting the Feb. 13, 2005 filing deadline pass by without submitting a petition for a writ of certiorari before the U.S. Supreme Court.

That writ may be issued to review and inspect the proceedings in the appellate court and determine if there have been any irregularities.

The State Department’s decision not to elevate the proceedings before the Supreme Court came about after several pleas from the group and various CNMI government officials, including Gov. Juan N. Babauta and Washington Rep. Pete A. Tenorio.

Mendoza said a thanksgiving Mass would be held for the group at the Kristo Rai Church in Garapan from 6pm to 7pm. He said members of the group should wear semi-formal attire with white tops for Saturday’s celebration, which would be held from 4pm to 6pm.

Mendoza said members of the group could call him at 233-3124 or Sheila Perez at 286-2702 or 234-6047 for more information.