Kilili: I’m doing everything to move HR 1466 forward

Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP) is back on island and said he continues to work hard so that his bill that seeks to afford “CNMI-only” resident status to four particular groups of aliens is passed by Congress at the soonest possible time.

“We have been reaching out to leadership from both sides of the aisle to move HR 1466 forward. Since we do not control the gavel, there is no way for me to say for certain when a vote will be scheduled but we continue to try and get a vote at the earliest opportunity,” he said.

With only 24 days to go before the expiration of umbrella permits on Nov. 27, 2011, the two-term congressman said it is essential that HR 1466 passes the U.S. House after it was green-lighted at the committee level a couple of months back.

“There is nothing certain until a vote actually takes place and we continue to work toward that end. I think that the sooner we act on HR 1466, the better for our U.S. citizens who happen to have immediate relatives who are third-country nationals. The House leadership knows that HR 1466 is a time-sensitive legislation and some have shared their own support for timely action on the bill,” he said.

After the House, Sablan’s measure would still have to be approved by the U.S. Senate before going to President Barrack Obama’s desk for action.

In an interview with KSPN 2 last night, Sablan said he hopes that HR 1466 is passed before the end of the year.

In an earlier report, Senate staffer Allen Stayman said it is possible that the Senate will consider and pass HR 1466 if it manages to hurdle the House.

Sablan’s H.R. 1466 proposes a “CNMI-only resident status” for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens as of May 8, 2008, and continuing to be on the islands, CNMI permanent residents, those born in the CNMI between Jan. 1, 1974 and Jan. 9, 1978, and the spouses or children, “as defined in section 101(b)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(b)(1)), of an alien described in subclauses (I) or (II).”

Gov. Benigno R. Fitial is opposed to HR 1466 because of its provision to extend status to alien workers with U.S. citizen children, regardless of age.

Positive news

United Workers Movement-NMI president Rabby Syed said he welcomes Sablan’s comments but said his group continues to ask the congressman to include all alien workers-even those without U.S. citizen children-in his bill.

“Definitely positive news for guest workers who are included in the bill. But we are still hoping Kilili will include other guest workers in his bill,” he said, while adding that UWM-NMI has not abandoned its dream of guest workers in the CNMI obtaining green cards and a pathway to citizenship.

Workers advocate Malou Berueco said that Sablan’s bill may be too late for hundreds of jobless alien workers with U.S. citizen children because they will be out of status after Nov. 27, 2011.

“It’s good that it will be approved by the House. But my worry is that by that time a lot of those affected will already be out of status and under Sablan’s bill they will no longer be covered by his bill,” she said.

Dekada president Boni Sagana, for his part, said he is thankful for Sablan’s “sincere help and untiring work” to move his bill.

Asked what he is doing to help the plight of jobless aliens with U.S. citizen children after the expiration of umbrella permits, Sablan said he has already requested Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to grant them parole-in-place.

“We continue to work to encourage DHS to provide a short term administrative remedy for those covered by HR 1466,” he said.