Napolitano assures Kilili DHS is listening

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has told Delegate Gregorio “Kilili” Camacho Sablan that her department is receptive to his request for a 180-day delay in the federalization of immigration.

“Secretary Napolitano told me that she is aware of the issues that I discussed in my letter to her,” Sablan said.

Napolitano met with Sablan and seven other members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus at the U.S. Capitol Wednesday. The primary topic of discussion was immigration.

“The Hispanic Caucus is a very influential group on Capitol Hill and has been a forefront in the area of immigration,” Sablan said. “This is why I was glad my application for membership was so quickly accepted, because of the importance of immigration issues to the people of the Northern Marianas.

“When the Hispanic Caucus speaks, people listen.”

U.S. Census Bureau records show that as of 2006, there are 44.3 million persons of Hispanic heritage in the U.S., 14.3 percent of the total population.

Sablan became the Caucus’s 25th member on Feb. 12, 2009.

Rep. Nydia Velázquez, CHC chair, welcomed Sablan in a statement that is published on CHC’s Web site.

“I am proud to see our continued growth and welcome Congressman Sablan. Together we will work to create job opportunities, build strong communities and provide a solid foundation for hard-working Hispanic families in the Northern Marianas and throughout the United States.”

On Feb. 10, 2009, Sablan wrote a six-page letter to Napolitano detailing the three reasons why DHS should delay federalization: 1) the lack of sufficient funding, 2) delays in the issuance of regulations, and 3) the potential for disruption of families.

At Wednesday’s meeting, Sablan reiterated to Napolitano his reasons for the 180-day delay.

“The delay provides more opportunity for DHS to prepare for the orderly phase-in of federal immigration laws in the CNMI. We want DHS to be successful because the lives and the future of thousands of people in the Northern Marianas are at stake here,” Sablan added.

Under U.S. Public Law 110-229, or the Consolidated Natural Resources Act, which President Bush signed on May 8, 2008, Napolitano has the power to delay the extension of U.S. federal law on immigration to the CNMI from June 1, 2009 to Nov. 27, 2009.

One purpose of the law was to regularize U.S. border controls in the interest of national security. But the law also specifies congressional intent to avoid the adverse economic effects of federalization and instead expand the potential for future economic growth in the Marianas.[B][I] (PR)[/I][/B]