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‘Three issues central to federalization talks’
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Posted on Jul 15 2008
A visiting official from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has cited the CNMI’s labor supply, attractiveness to foreign investors, and access to tourists as the three main issues central to discussions about the implementation of the Commonwealth’s new immigration law.
Igor Timofeyev, director of immigration policy and special advisor for refugee and asylum at the DHS, said the drafters of the regulations are aware of the Commonwealth’s concerns about the potential impact of immigration “federalization” on the local economy. He added that these concerns will be taken into account as the DHS and other agencies write the regulations.
Speaking at the Saipan Rotary Club meeting yesterday, Timofeyev said the regulations will ensure there will be enough workers to fill jobs in the Commonwealth under the federalized system.
He added that the drafters of the regulations will study carefully the CNMI’s concerns about its future ability to attract foreign investors and future access to the emerging tourism markets of China and Russia.
Timofeyev noted that the DHS and other agencies involved in drafting the regulations will have to follow established criteria for including countries in the visa waiver program, but he said that, “certainly, one issue we will look at is economic impact and the potential for economic development.”
Timofeyev is one of the 10 federal officials visiting the island to collect information on the existing immigration system and get local perspective on the new immigration rules. The visiting delegation is made up of representatives from the DHS, Office of Insular Affairs, Citizenship and Immigration Service, and Customs Border Protection, among other agencies. The group arrived on Friday and will leave today.
