Previous Story
Be in our shoes and you’ll see
|
Posted on Sep 14 2004
This letter is in response to Mr. Gregorio C. Sablan concerning the “stateless” issue. First and foremost, how dare you assume that ALL of us former “stateless” adults are ashamed of our nationality. We are not ashamed of anything, including our ethnicity and nationality. In fact, we practice and express our culture freely, just like anyone else. Just because we as a group are fighting for what we firmly believe in, trying to obtain U.S. citizenship does not mean that we are turning our backs on our nationality. There were many unforeseen consequences when the Covenant was being negotiated and signed; one was a lack of clarity in Article III. As a result, we remain in limbo. All we are trying to do is to correct that lack of clarity.
Before House Bill 14-97 took into effect on May 27, 2004, we were faced with uncertainty. Many of us could not even work due to our status and many of us had to leave the island when we turned 21. The law gave us security to stay and work here. I have waited 20 years, I know people who have waited 25 years, just to have security, just to be an Immediate Relative. Mr. Sablan, I can completely understand how you felt when you waited for the Covenant to be in full effect. You wrote that it took you 10 years of waiting just to become a U.S. citizens. Well, we are still waiting…
Many of us have just graduated from high school and are attending Northern Marianas College. Like most of the students, we applied for CNMI scholarships. To our surprise, we got approved, even received letters of approval. Of course we were elated because it would have been a great help with tuition, fees, and other school expenses. Now because of the State Department’s appeal, our scholarships are on hold. I, along with all my friends are surprised, upset, and worried. Keep in my mind, we are children of alien workers, so just living on a day-to-day basis is difficult. Now that it is on hold, our futures are on hold as well. Mr. Sablan, I know that you do not want your child/ren to be in the same predicament we are in, so before you make a judgment about us, try walking in our shoes and seeing it from our point of view.
Shirlynn Perez
San Jose, Saipan
