Foreign workers pin hopes on NMI officials

Ferdinand and Terry G. Dingzon are two of the over 2,000 foreign workers in the CNMI who are either under the humanitarian parole program or hold an employment authorization document that would expire at the end of the year. Come Jan. 1, 2019, they would have to stop working while their renewals are being processed.

That uncertainty in their immigration status is prompting the Dingzons and others in similar circumstances to pin their hope in what local officials could do to help them. They were among the over 100 foreign workers who met with Gov. Ralph DLG Torres last Sunday at the Marianas Business Plaza to make their case. Now Torres is set to write a letter to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to raise their concerns.

Itos Feliciano, moderator of the CNMI Foreign Workers Facebook page, helped organize the meeting for affected workers from Bangladesh, China, the Philippines, Japan, and South Korea.

Foreign workers like the Dingzons are mostly concerned about the rule that would require them to stop working while their documents are being processed. Some of these workers either have minor children who are U.S. citizens or were given transitional conditional permits (umbrella permits).

“We just want to continue working since it would be hard for us if we stop working, most especially for those who have children,” said Terry Dingzon. “We also have kids. Our eldest is 20 years old and the other one is 15.”

Her husband, Ferdinand, pointed out, “We’re legal workers and we pay taxes. We just want to ask the governor to support us with USCIS. Hopefully, his connections with President Trump could help our cause.”

The Dingzons had been in the Commonwealth for a combined 40 years, with Terry the first one to come to Saipan in 1993, while Ferdinand arrived in 2006. Ferdinand is currently working at Twins Supermarket in Dandan while Terry is employed at Summer Snow Kids Café.

When Public Law 110-229 or the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008 was enacted in 2009, guest workers in the CNMI were granted humanitarian parole for various reasons, a status that they received during the transition period.

USCIS issued humanitarian paroles to foreign workers who were left without employment status. These workers either have minor children who were U.S. citizens or were given transitional conditional permits (umbrella permits).

Foreign workers under the program, however, have to stop working while their documents are being processed. Most of them will be renewing their papers next month. Others had submitted their application for renewal ahead of the date of expiration.

Although the Dingzons’ eldest is turning 21 next year—the age where a son or a daughter who is a U.S. citizen can petition a parent for a green card—the Dingzons must still renew their EADs since their green cards will still be applied for and processed.

Torres told the group that they should provide as much information that they could gather to help their cause that will be included in the letter that he will send to USCIS. “For example, there are 2,000 workers who are on humanitarian parole and with children, regardless if they are 20 or 5 years old. So, we can have our own data and when we’re asking, we’re asking as a whole.

Rep. Angel A. Demapan (R-Saipan), who is the former House Federal and Foreign Affairs Committee chair, joined Torres at the meeting, as he could also help draft the language of the letter to USCIS.

Demapan said he would introduce a House resolution to show the Legislature’s support to the plight of the workers and that would also serve as another document that would amplify Torres’ letter to USCIS.

“The resolution would show the Legislature’s support for this particular group of workers who are on humanitarian parole and are EAD holders. That’s the purpose of the resolution, showing the federal government that we have unified action,” said Dempan, “that we have unified support from the executive and legislative branches of the CNMI government. Because these people here are contributing members of the community. These people here originated before umbrella permits even came out.”

Torres said he understands the concerns of the group but clarified that their situation is a federal issue. “The 2,000 humanitarian parolees and EADs, that’s a lot…and their concern about not being able to work shows instability with their family.”

“As I said and made clear, this is a federal issue. What we can do is write a letter of support of the request on the 240 days while parolees wait for their extension approval.”