Big gathering set over CW crisis

Long-term foreign workers, mostly with U.S. citizen children, are organizing another big gathering this Saturday at the Kilili pavilion in Susupe to express their gratitude to CNMI leaders who expressed support for their improved immigration status in the wake of the CW crisis.

The gathering will be spearheaded by a group called “We Dream Us One,” which was formed two weeks ago by Mami Ikeda, Itos Torres Feliciano, Glen Hunter, Amor Q. Zapanta, Won Jun Lee, Anna Chan, and Elitza Stoilova.

Feliciano, former president of Human Dignity Movement, said he expects Filipinos, Koreans, Chinese, Bangladeshis, U.S. citizens, and other nationalities who are either affected by CW crisis or supporting improved immigration status for long-time foreign workers to attend the event set to start at 4pm.

Feliciano said affected employers and representatives from businesses have been invited to speak at the gathering.

Feliciano said if the federal government will not immediately act on the CW crisis, in two to three months, many businesses in the CNMI may shut down and the economy will surely be impacted as a domino effect.

He said they will express their gratitude to CNMI authorities for their support and that they are hoping to see the situation move forward as early as possible considering that hundreds of foreign workers had already left the island due to CW crisis.

“We expect to have a larger crowd this time, and are encouraging more businesses and the local community to support us,” Feliciano said.

Last Sunday, “We Dream Us One” led a crowd of Filipino, Chinese, Korean, and other community groups at the Kilili Beach, waving signs on the roadside to the honking of cars and gathering under the pavilions where they aired their concerns and showed solidarity with one another.

Many affected workers are seeking a permanent or improved status for their long-time and legal contributions to the CNMI. Some waived signs asking for “humanitarian parole” for those workers who will have to leave because of rejected permits under a CW cap that has been reached.

Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP) last week stated that he will be adding a call for improved status for longtime foreign workers in the CNMI, forming a unified front with Gov. Ralph DLG. Torres after Torres shifted toward the position during recent 902 talks in Washington, D.C.