The Governor\u2019s Council of Economic Advisors is exploring the possibility of having the \u201ctouchback\u201d rule of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service repealed.<\/p>\n
In an interview with Alex Sablan, who is a member of the Governor\u2019s Council of Economic Advisors, he said the council is still working with Delegate Gregorio Kilili Sablan (Ind-MP) to look for ways to get USCIS\u2019 touchback rule repealed. <\/p>\n
\u201cUSCIS came back with an extension for two years that would allow for touchbacks to be instituted in 2022. It is still our effort to try to work with Congressman Kilili to work on legislation that will find more concrete process behind the CNMI-Only Workers visas, the CW process in renewals, and to look at the idea of repealing the touchback provision because it really doesn\u2019t make a lot of sense,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
Sablan says the council is doing everything it can to help minimize the impact the touchback will have with the CNMI because, without CW workers, there\u2019s an insufficient local workforce base. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re hopeful that we can have those conversations and see if we can find a way to minimize the impact on the community. The focal point is always going to be, \u2018Let\u2019s look at filling jobs with U.S. workers first,\u2019 but we all know that we do not have a sufficient local workforce base and we need to augment with a CW program,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
Alex Sablan explained that the idea of cutting back on the CW workforce does not help the CNMI economy grow. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe need a more permanent structure behind the CW program. The diminishing numbers annually do not help us to grow the economy. We\u2019ve had really good reports over the years, good studies determining we do not have a sufficient local workforce base. We do need to transition people out of maybe government into the private sector and diversify the economy into other industries, so that we have good paying jobs for everyone,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
Alex Sablan is hopeful that the council, in collaboration with Sablan\u2019s office, can find a more solid footing on The CW program.<\/p>\n
According to Saipan Tribune archives, last August 2020, USCIS modified its policy on implementing the touchback rule\u2014the requirement that CWs leave the CNMI for at least 30 days after two renewals of the CW-1 visa classification.<\/p>\n
USCIS stated that CW-1 long-term workers, as defined in the interim final rule, are exempted from the departure requirement.<\/p>\n
In modifying its policy, USCIS will only consider CW-1 petitions approved on or after June 18, 2020, when they apply the requirement that certain CW-1 nonimmigrant workers depart the CNMI for a period of at least 30 continuous days.<\/p>\n
Prior to the modification, USCIS counted all consecutive petition validity periods, even those approved prior to June 18, 2020, when determining which CW-1 nonimmigrant workers are subject to the temporary departure requirement.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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