Babauta to head to DC for stateless issue

Gov. Juan N. Babauta is tentatively scheduled to leave for Washington D.C. on May 30 to discuss with the U.S. House of Representatives the stateless issues affecting more than 200 individuals in the Commonwealth.

Legal counsel Steve Newman disclosed this, saying that preparations and other immediate matters are now being attended to.

Newman said at present, the list of individuals claiming to be stateless is undergoing authentication and verification at the CNMI Records Office to ensure that all documents to be submitted to the office of U.S. Rep. Dan Burton are certified and reviewed.

“We would be hand-carrying two lists and they would be submitted to the U.S. Congress on May 30; it is a tentative date but we hope to get it done by then,” said Newman in an interview.

He said the Office of the Governor is closely working with the House of Representatives on the list of stateless individuals in the CNMI. It is unclear whether Rep. Clyde Norita would be joining the governor and Newman in the May meeting with Burton.

The verification procedure would be conducted not only to ensure the authenticity of the documents but also to make sure that all stateless children would be included on the comprehensive list.

Burton, who had earlier indicated that he supports the bid, is expected to introduce legislation at the U.S. Congress to address the issue of stateless individuals in the Commonwealth.

Burton, however, stressed that a comprehensive and accurate list of qualified individuals must be included in the proposed legislation. Based on records, individuals who are eligible to register as “stateless persons” are those who were born and raised in the Commonwealth between Jan. 1, 1974, and Nov. 4, 1986, who are not U.S. citizens.

They are not U.S. citizens due to the fact that Section 301(c) of the Covenant only granted U.S. citizenship to those who were domiciled continuously in the Northern Mariana Islands beginning prior to Jan. 1, 1974 and continuing through Nov. 4, 1986.

While in the U.S., Babauta is expected to discuss also other issues pertinent to the Northern Marianas with other U.S. legislators. The governor would be discussing with Washington officials the funding allocation for the Veterans’ cemetery, which has been in the works for the last two years.

Also, Babauta would discuss the proposed National Guard for the CNMI when he meets with other U.S. officials. On Wednesday, the governor formed a task force that would look into the National Guard issue, which would be re-appealed to the U.S. House of Representatives.