U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services may set the CW-1 cap limit this week. <\/p>\n
According to USCIS public affairs officer Arwen Fitzgerald, who handles USCIS matters in Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico, the agency hopes the limit would be set within this week.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are waiting for the Federal Register notice for the fiscal year 2018 CW-1 cap limit to be signed and released,\u201d he said in an email to Saipan Tribune. <\/p>\n
Separately, a statement from the Office of the Governor yesterday suggested that a possible White House investigation is the cause for the delay in setting the CW-1 limit for the fiscal year 2018, one month well into the fiscal year.<\/p>\n
Press secretary Kevin Bautista told Saipan Tribune that Gov. Ralph DLG Torres was informed in early October 2017 that USCIS had proposed a \u201csubstantial reduction\u201d for the fiscal year 2018 CW-1 limit.<\/p>\n
The fiscal year 2017 CW-1 limit was set at 12,998. The fiscal year prior\u2019s CW-1 limit was at 12,999.<\/p>\n
He added that Torres was informed that the \u201csubstantial\u201d reduction was due to the language in Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan\u2019s (Ind-MP) H.R. 339, as well as Congress\u2019 outdated unemployment figures.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn response to this information, governor [Torres] spoke with the White House and the deputy chief of staff of the President and the White House Intergovernmental Affairs Office to request their assistance on behalf of the CNMI people,\u201d said Bautista.<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring governor\u2019s trip to [Washington] D.C., he met with the Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs, the White House, and USCIS to bring forward the economic harm a dramatic reduction would bring to the CNMI economy in this timeframe, as well as the many efforts done by the local government and the private sector to recruit, hire, and train U.S. workers,\u201d he said, adding that Torres continues to pursue \u201call avenues to advocate on behalf of the CNMI\u201d on this issue.<\/p>\n
According to Bautista, the \u201csubstantial reduction,\u201d in which the amount was not specified, was possibly brought about by the White House looking into the CNMI economy.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is appreciated and, in the longer term, beneficial for the continuation of our economic growth and providing opportunities to our citizens. The governor is thankful for the response and time given to him by the Trump administration to hear our needs and appreciates the attention our concerns have received from President Trump and his staff,\u201d said Bautista, adding that Torres remains \u201chopeful\u201d that the CNMI economic growth and efforts to address concerns brought by \u201cdiffering parties\u201d allow the continuation of economic progress. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe goal of the administration continues to be the development of the local capacity within our workforce to meet the needs of our economy and the mandates of Public Law 110-229, but simultaneously advocate for the CNMI in ensuring our federal partners in Washington, D.C. understand that our economic growth and job opportunities for U.S. workers relies on the access and presence of foreign workers,\u201d said Bautista.<\/p>\n
In a separate statement from Sablan, he believes that the CW-1 limit should only be reduced by one, just as the previous two fiscal years. <\/p>\n
\u201cMy position is that the 2018 cap should go down by one\u2014just one\u2014to 12,997,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat would be the safest decision for the Northern Marianas economy right now,\u201d said Sablan, adding that he would \u201cnot speculate on why the Trump administration has not yet made a decision\u201d on the fiscal year 2018 CW-1 cap.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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