‘180 days hopefully enough to fix workers parole’

Rep. Angel A. Demapan (R-Saipan) is hoping the 180-day transition window given by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to workers that are under the categorical CNMI parole programs would be enough time for them to either look for other legal status or leave the Commonwealth.

Demapan, in November last year, introduced a House Joint Resolution in support of the letter sent by Gov. Ralph DLG Torres to Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen regarding the issue. H.J.R. 20-13 backs the combined efforts of the CNMI government and the private sector to assist the over 2,000 workers under the program.

Last Dec. 27, USCIS terminated the categorical parole program that affected the status immediate relatives of U.S. citizens and other stateless individuals, CNMI permanent residents and their IRs, IRs of citizens of Freely Associated States, and caregivers of CNMI residents who are either elderly or disabled.

FAS are those citizens from the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau that are living and working in the CNMI.

Demapan said he was saddened with USCIS’ announcement but welcomed the transition period. “What happens next is basically what’s in the announcement, I believe there’s going to be an extension or a transition period that will allow these parolees and these EAD holders to transition up to June of 2019, if I’m not mistaken.”

USICS said they are not renewing all applications of workers who are under the program after it expired on Dec. 31, 2018. “Although USCIS will not otherwise authorize re-parole under these programs, it will allow a transitional parole period and [EAD] extension (if applicable) for up to 180 days for affected individuals, with parole not extending beyond June 29, 2019.”

“The transitional parole period of up to 180 days will help ensure an orderly wind-down of the programs and provide an opportunity for individuals to prepare to depart or seek another lawful status,” USCIS said in a statement.

UCIS added that parolees that applied for an extension would receive a letter that grants a 180-day transitional parole. The extension, however, is on a case-by-case basis unless if there was a reason to deny the request. They would then issue new EADs that would cover the 180-day transition period to those who requested an extension.

Demapan said the CNMI could have better prepared for this to avoid any problems. “We could have prepared better for this by having congressional legislation in the U.S. Congress side to create these categories that would take care of those people under the parole program. If these work categories by statute, it would have opened the door to an administrative decision.”

“Unfortunately, there was no congressional action to create these categories and prevent this from happening. So, this is where we are at now. I believe there’s still time to take congressional action and create these categories by legislation. And hopefully it gets signed into law.”

He added that USCIS’ decision was a difficult pill to swallow not only for the workers but also to the CNMI labor force. “Especially for those workers under the parole program that are taking care of the elderly and disabled in our community. It’s going to be a tough decision that many families would have to make.”

Demapan said those under the program number around 2,000 workers that occupy positions outside and not included in the current CNMI-Only Transitional Worker (CW-1) visa classification category.

“It really is a separate category and situation in the matter of our workforce. So, with this transition period, it gives a little breathing room to the families that are affected. Via the employers’ families and the employees’ families.”

“But hopefully within that period, something can happen. To give more certainty for those who are affected so that they can properly plan for what is to come after the extended period,” added Demapan.