CNMI leaders to meet with US officials • Efforts intensified to stave off federal takeover threats

Local leaders will strengthen their relationship with the federal government in attempts to block the passage and implementation of a renewed proposal in the US Congress to strip the CNMI of its immigration and labor controls.

Commonwealth officials are, in fact, planning to meet with newly-appointed officials in the Bush Administration who have direct oversight on American insular areas including the Northern Marianas.

House Speaker Benigno R. Fitial disclosed concrete plans to meet with Interior Department Secretary Gale Norton and other US officials in the American capital, Washington DC including Rep. Tom Delay, a long-time ally of the Commonwealth.

Mr. Fitial said communication lines have already been established between Commonwealth and US governments as part of local efforts to ensure Washington that measures are being taken to correct previous concerns raised by the Clinton Administration.

“I am confident that the federal takeover issue will eventually meet its death. Although we are hopeful that the US Senate will hold back the new federal takeover bill for reasons that it is unnecessary and would kill the islands’ economy,” he told an interview.

The speaker also mentioned that strong relationships have been established with a good number of US legislative leaders who are completely aware of the damaging effect of a federal takeover to the CNMI economy.

Mr. Fitial said he will meet with DOI officials and Mr. Delay, as well as officials of agencies that have direct jurisdiction over the Commonwealth and other outlying areas, next month.

Although the meeting will not focus on federal takeover issues, Mr. Fitial said this will be a part of his discussions with federal officials. He is also set to raise concerns on the extension of more technical assistance to the islands.

“I am confident that with the placement of the new OIA director, CNMI will stand to gain more benefits in terms of technical assistance we did not get under the adminsitration of Allen Stayman and Danny Aranza,” he added.

The speaker added federal takeover proposals have thinner chances at being able to make a first base not only because CNMI has more allies in the US now but, more importantly, because measures have been properly taken to improve the labor conditions in the Northern Marianas.

Renewed attempts

US legislators recently renewed attempts to extend the implementation of federal minimum wage and immigration laws to the Northern Marianas with the introduction of a new takeover measure.

Senators Frank Murkowski and Daniel Akaka, known staunch critics of the Commonwealth, have joined forces to introduce S. 507, which seeks to gradually eliminate the Commonwealth’s nonresident worker program.

Although passage of the legislation failed after it was tossed back to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources for further review, CNMI lobbyist informed local lawmakers yesterday that there are strong indications that enough votes exist in favor of the measure.

Provisions of the proposed measure allow for a nine-year transition period wherein the islands’ nonresident workforce will be slowly phased out, while also giving room for eligible foreign workers to stay and apply for employment-based immigrant visas.

S. 507 also allows the CNMI to admit temporary alien workers who may not be eligible for admission under the Immigration and Nationality Act from the time the measure becomes a law until Dec. 31, 2009.

The Attorney General will have the authority to determine if there is a need to extend the transition period, or the time when temporary nonimmigrant aliens will be allowed to work in the CNMI, by another five years.

S. 507 provides a single five-year extension of the transition period, which expires on Dec. 31, 2009, for business sectors in the CNMI other than the tourism industry.

The permits will also be valid as admission exclusively to the Northern Marianas, and not in any American territory or the mainland US.

If this is any consolation, temporary alien workers admitted to the CNMI as nonimmigrants will be permitted to transfer between employers during the period of their authorized stay on the islands.

The proposed measure gives the Attorney General the authority to set the conditions for admissions of nonimmigrant temporary alien workers under the transition program, while the US State Secretary will be the authorizing entity on the issuance of nonimmigrant visas for aliens to engage in employment in the CNMI.

Recognizing the impending problem faced by businesses in the CNMI in terms of manpower shortage that may arise from its implementation, S. 507 empowers the Attorney General to establish a specific number of employment-based immigrant visas.

The measure also stated that persons granted employment-based immigrant visas under the transition program may be admitted for the purpose of immigrating to the CNMI as lawful permanent residents of the US.

S. 507 is equipped with safety nets to prevent mass migration of aliens to the Northern Marianas, since the proposed measure makes it clear that no alien will be granted initial admission as a lawful permanent resident of the US at a port-of-entry in the CNMI or at a port-of-entry in Guam.