FAS bill may sour island ties

A legislation restricting the stay of Freely Associated States citizens in the CNMI met strong opposition during a public hearing late Monday as members of the community prodded the government instead to lobby Washington to live up to its promises of financial assistance.

Dozens of citizens from neighboring island now residing here also appealed to the legislature not to pass the proposal, warning it would result to strained relations between the CNMI and island nations in the region.

Some local residents also cautioned against selecting a particular group in the restrictive policy, noting other nationalities, especially Chinese and Filipinos, also impact on the limited infrastructure and public funds here.

At the center of discussion was House Bill 11-294, sponsored by Rep. Melvin Faisao, which will set up a mechanism to limit the stay of FAS citizens in the CNMI to those habitual residents who are either employed or attending school full-time.

This will amend the policy of allowing them to freely enter into any U.S. territories or states as provided under the Compact of Free Association forged between Washington and the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau and Marshalls in 1986.

Robert Torres, a representative of the Public Defender’s Office, asked the House committees on Federal and Foreign Relations as well as Labor and Immigration to scrap the measure under review by the joint panel.

“We are attacking our neighbors from nearby islands when the real problem is the United States,” he told during the hearing. “Where is the money?”

Torres said the CNMI government should blame Washington for its failure to meet its obligations as provided under the agreement and must press for payment of the Compact Impact funds.

Temmy L. Shmull, chief of staff of Palau President Kuniwo Nakamura, also testified at the hearing that his governmnt is willing to work with the CNMI leaders to deal with the situation.

Saying Palau is “troubled” by the apparent breach of the Compact and the haste to pass the House bill, he stressed they opposed any measure that will impose “discriminatory” regulations to enforce the agreement.

While they sympathize with the CNMI in its frustration over White House’ snub on payment of the grants, Shmull said they find it wrong to react to the breach by punishing FAS nationals.

“Palau hopes that the Commonwealth would temper any application of the proposed legislation… with reason,” he explained, vowing to join in taking steps “to compel wayward parties to do what is required of them” under the Compact.

Obviously unaware of the three-year stay limit for alien workers imposed recently by the government, a CNMI resident also echoed her concern over the “unfair” move, citing the growing number of Asians on the island who also use up local resources.

But committee members defended the move as it will cover those who are not “gainfully employed” in the CNMI or are not attending school full-time, adding they have to adopt a mechanism in light of the new regulations on FAS migration from the federal government.

“We are concerned about the unemployed FAS citizens,” said House Majority Floor leader Ana S. Teregeyo. “We are concerned when the U.S. is taking away funding from the CNMI.”

She stressed the government must address the problem and the legislation is a step to seek solution to the impact of the Compact.

The measure, pending since last year, is the first attempt of the CNMI government to restrict the FAS migration, as several agencies have expressed support for the policy change due to their strain in the local resources.

The Northern Marianas, as well as Guam and Hawaii, have said hosting FAS citizens has strained limited infrastructure, such as schools, hospitals and public housing, costing millions of dollars in expenditures that have yet to be reimbursed by Washington despite its earlier pledges.

Last month, the Office of Insular Affairs asked the House to withhold action on HB 11-294 pending implementation of new federal regulations governing FAS migration, which will not applicable in the CNMI.