Extending CW program prolongs Abramoff agenda

Dear Labor Secretary Thomas Perez: Citizens of the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands deserve a Congressional hearing here before another transition period is rolled over them by lobbyists promoting the exact agenda Jack Abramoff’s bribery of the U.S. House of Representatives accomplished. Washington hearings are attended by well-funded interests, not underemployed Americans. You are tasked with a key economic decision and have never been here to hear reliable testimony; initiating this request for a hearing, which is duly warranted.
CNMI Americans overwhelmingly want the transition period ended and investor visa laws enforced so they can benefit from economic protections all mainland citizens enjoy. The CW program enables non-visa businesses that don’t hire citizens, perpetuating a failed model that guarantees poverty, imports crime and ice, and greatly expands immigration fraud, labor abuse, birth tourism, and human trafficking; our internationally acclaimed specialities.

Illegal businesses here seldom hire a citizen, mocking the intent of the U.S. investor visa program, because they prefer obedient disenfranchised persons whose U.S. status is tied to the job.  Few CNMI businesses are exercising U.S. investor visa options because the CW program enables illegal operators ignoring the law, and they are the sole source of post garment era abuse. There is no economic logic for America to extend when valid businesses can easily supply a workforce from unemployed citizens, CNMI retirees in poverty, H visas, thousands of CNMI government employees certain to need private sector jobs, unlimited FAS residents, new HS graduates (and non-grads), and they will undoubtedly fill unskilled hotel needs. An extension guarantees public aid stays the main economic leg, evidenced by more than 90 percent participation in food subsidies, a national disaster guaranteed to worsen if extended.

HANMI says “we need time” to train, but in 2001 the U.S. had about 2,000 mass layoffs and plant closures subject to WARN (two months) notice affecting about 660,000 employees. If 2/3 of a million Americans endured that, waiting 60 more months after the original six years to appease a handful of greedy hotels reaping record profits on the backs of 1,500 CWs at the expense of so many unemployed Americans, is uncalled for.  A U.S. machine operator is trained about a week; to say citizens can’t work as security guards or tour guides is ludicrous.

The big business lobby case is founded on disingenuous reasoning in three areas.

One point is the CNMI doesn’t have enough skilled labor, which is true and something we never had and those able to qualify as a H-1s are long gone.  CWs we are discussing don’t qualify and Saipan has an overabundance of unskilled labor.  Business has now coined, “qualified labor,” to mean multilingual disenfranchised CWs that don’t qualify for visas willing to work cheap in Third World conditions frozen here without travel privileges.  They say you can’t replace 10,000 CWs with 3,500 jobless citizens, a spin to imply we don’t have enough labor to operate the hotels, which is false, proven because the hotels only employ about 1,500 CWs. This lie is propagated by politicians funded by no-visa foreigners that employ themselves and cheap CWs, while expanding immigration fraud and human trafficking.  The 1,500 jobs can be easily replaced by unemployed citizens or H visas. Extending can’t increase skilled labor that’s not here, and our unskilled citizens need jobs but businesses won’t hire them as they invest heavily to keep a status quo. Business can hire unlimited highly skilled H visas now if they really “don’t have enough skilled labor,” but they refuse. Such orchestrated deceit mimics tobacco companies testifying cigarettes don’t harm your health. Guam’s Rep. Bordallo opposing NMI workers travel privileges to Guam shows she doesn’t want the NMI unskilled labor. CHC is an exception and unlimited H-1s solves CNMI need for 200 nurses and helps our hospital.

The second myth is that locals “won’t work,” but productivity and incentive are tied, and citizens can’t compete with $300-a-month labor. Our low wages are infamous, but less known is that CWs are willing to, and do, work for much less than our depressed wages to stay employed, and their tax returns evidence this. Small no-visa businesses know they aren’t required to pay minimum wages and exploit it, expanding poverty, labor abuse, and damage to citizens.  Our politicians privately claim locals won’t work but oppose reducing the size of the CNMI government, our largest employer. Our food aid stats prove U.S. taxpayers subsidize foreign business labor costs and they should learn of such waste. Our 10K voters were just appropriated over $32 million in additional food aid, so it’s no surprise foreign grocery store owners fund politicians to extend the transition period. I can assure you, having taught thousands here; if hotels offered $8 an hour work, the line of jobless Americans applying would exceed one mile long.

The third business claim is the wellbeing of U.S. citizen children (of CWs), odd since it was their multi-million dollar lobby effort that blocked (their parents) improved status in the Abramoff scandal, and successfully closed the much needed federal ombudsman’s office in 2013. Their new strategy is to voice public support for a long pathway to citizenship scheme; maybe; if they work long and hard enough; are loyal and obedient; they may someday be allowed to stay if income guidelines are met…or if U.S. reform passes, maybe in 10 years if politicians don’t change the law again or add indefinite extensions like the “Omnibus Territories Act of 2013.”

The U.S. must have one cohesive immigration policy for states and territories to combat abuse, end human trafficking, and to ensure the democratic ideals of our nation are upheld on U.S. soil; as nothing less is acceptable.

Business says an end will hurt the CNMI economy, but the aesthetics of unchecked poverty isn’t conducive to tourism. Business has invested in cheap labor, demands its continuation; and hopes to keep wages at Third World rates, ensured by supply and demand. Citizens won’t work in those conditions and foreign businesses won’t employ Americans until forced.

Unlimited H visas were to provide a niche “Silicon Valley would kill for,” but Microsoft and Google didn’t moved here, likely due to our shameless reputation for corruption. The prevailing wage study illustrates our labor debacle. Ending a failed system sparked federal intervention; extending it will harm citizens and ensure business demands another in 2019.

Scam businesses await your decision for a go to expand the sex trade industry; a reality federalization was meant to end, not expand. Sexual harassment of females is common because temporary CWs aren’t represented, can’t vote or sit on a jury; another vote to end the disgrace.

Many of us support improving CW status, but the CNMI only doesn’t work. Allowing CWs to travel does work, but business won’t allow it; don’t want to pay them; won’t let them leave.

Human rights issues from extending the status quo has lowered America’s stature among nations, evidenced by China using Saipan to compare and defend their own poor record of abuse. The best solution for America is to require visas for all, like China and Philippines do, and denying Americans participation in the decision supports the ideals of organized criminals; not citizens. A hearing could also coincide with Ben Fitial’s return.

Young citizens have patiently waited years for opportunity to work, start small businesses, and earn a liveable wage in Delay’s petri dish of capitalism. Keeping the status quo of a failed economic model irreparably harms them, and poverty is the worst form of labor abuse.

We welcome visitors and investors from every nation but decent citizens must insist on requiring visas to work or operate business. We have a chance to build a better Commonwealth, rich with diversity; empowering stakeholders, and your assistance is greatly appreciated.

Ron Hodges
Puerto Rico, Saipan