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Don’t delay federalization’s implementation
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Posted on Feb 08 2009
Veteran lawmakers like Senate President Pete Reyes, House Speaker Arnold Palacios, Gov. Benigno Fitial, and Rep. Diego Benavente are the very reason we are in the predicament we face today. For over two decades, their ignorance, political influences and self-interest have failed to correct the flaws and loopholes in our immigration and labor laws in the Commonwealth. They are responsible for pushing U.S. local citizens and residents of our homeland to unemployment and public assistance.
The concerns of the United States that the CNMI’s importation of large numbers of guest workers was inconsistent with the Covenant and would result in serious social, cultural, and economic problems were first raised in 1986 by the Reagan Administration—some 23 years ago! Even today, although the immigration reform bill has been enacted, the CNMI government still continues to bring in workers in violation of the intent of the Covenant to protect the indigenous community. The insult and disrespect is that our leaders are more responsive to outside special interests than to the indigenous community.
U.S. Public Law 110-229 is of national security and border control concerns and it is a federal responsibility. It is our hope that the request to put off its implementation on June 1, 2009, is not adhered to by the federal government.
[B]Gregorio Cruz Jr.[/B] [I]Taotao Tano CNMI Inc.[/I]
