Federalization forum bids to dispel rumors

The fate of guest workers under a federalized immigration system in the CNMI was the center of discussion at a “federalization forum” on Wednesday evening.

The Saipan Chamber of Commerce and the Federal Ombudsman’s Office, with the help of the Philippine Consul General, hosted the forum in a bid to dispel many of the rumors and inaccuracies circulating regarding Senate Bill 2739.

The legislation would have the federal government take over the Commonwealth’s labor and immigration controls.

Federal Ombudsman Jim Benedetto and Chamber President Jim Arenovski were at hand to answer questions from the estimated 80 guest workers, mostly Filipinos, present at the discussion.

But while the forum clarified a number of issues, many questions may remain unanswered until federalization actually takes place.

One obvious point of confusion is a provision in the bill, which states that the number of CNMI-only guest workers should be reduced year after year until it reaches zero five years from now. The CNMI transitional workers program will expire in 2014.

Foreign workers fear they will be sent home.

Arenovski said that while that sounds like an unlikely situation, it is not impossible. “The provision could be interpreted to mean exactly as it is phrased. I cannot imagine anybody shutting the doors to the CNMI, but it can certainly happen,” he said.

For his part, Benedetto said the provision should not be read in isolation. He maintained that the bill has many other provisions that will make sure the CNMI gets the number of workers it needs.

For instance, he said, the bill allows the CNMI to seek five-year extensions to the initial transition period, as long as the extensions can be justified.

But he added that there is no provision on how early the CNMI can request an extension. The likely solution, he said, will be to make the request in the beginning of the federalization process, instead of waiting until the initial transition period is ending.

Still, Benedetto admitted that “we don’t know exactly the answer. Nothing is written in stone. It is up to the [Department of Homeland Security] to draft the regulations. And I will be lying if I say they will draft the regulations in a certain way because I don’t know.”

For his reason, he said, the participation of local leaders and community representatives is critical to the drafting of regulations for the implementation of the federalized immigration system.

The Senate has passed the CNMI immigration bill. It now heads to the House, where the measure has broad support. Once the bill clears the House, it will be sent to the president for his signature, and will then become law.