Dear Uncle Sam,

We are not really related by blood but I grew up hearing your name from my father. In the years that I was growing up back in our house, my father would tell us stories about you. I imagine from those stories that our ties are very strong because you have been very much a part of the history of our family. My father will always tell us how you give people like us the opportunity to make their lives better and where everybody who dreams and strives to achieve their dreams can succeed.

I still find it amazing that one day, I was already in your house. You accepted me and welcomed me like I’m one of your own children. In a short period of time, I feel like I’m home. I worked hard, followed all your rules, and I contributed to your livelihood to show you my gratitude. I was a good daughter.

Then one day, you decided to impose discipline for reasons that we did not cause and for which we were also the victims. I thought I understood the situation and I supported your decision. Who would not want a change that promised to stop the abuse of my people? I marched and showed you my support.

Years later, I am sad to tell you that a lot of us are already gone from your house. It was not only difficult to feed our own families. It’s even harder to stay because you set a certain number of people who can stay in your house and a rule that entails tedious process and uncertainty on whether we have to stop working or worst, if we have to leave. I have seen friends and family who were brokenhearted because everything that they had built for years all of a sudden were shattered. The only people who stubbornly stayed are those who cannot leave because they already have families here or they don’t have anywhere else to go because they have been here for the most part of their lives and they are afraid that there will be no other place where they can start all over again.

I am writing on behalf of my family and friends who are still in your house, hoping and praying for your mercy to let them become truly a part of your family. Is it not enough that they already lived most of their lives here among your own children? Why do you make them suffer because of all of these uncertainties? You are the only one who can take them out from this dilemma so I am wondering why you are not doing anything. It’s as if you are punishing them. When I talked to you years ago, you already told me that it’s not going to be easy because if you give us a better deal here in CNMI, you also have to give the same to everyone. Fair enough but I will not stop in asking you to look at the CNMI. We are dying. We cannot anymore survive on temporary remedies. We need stability. We need a permanent solution once and for all.

Please do not anymore prolong their agony. After all, they are humans too.

Irene Nepomuceno
Puerto Rico