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Long wait over
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Posted on Feb 28 2005
The long wait is finally over—two decades and five years—at least in my case. The U.S. government has finally recognized us, former stateless, as U.S. citizens. Being a stateless was no joke. We were deprived of rights and privileges granted to persons born in U.S. soil like the Northern Marianas.
We were treated as second-class citizens in the land where we were born. Our opportunities to find jobs were limited. Our compensation was not the same as that of our fellow Americans.
But that’s history now thanks to the U.S. Department of Justice’s decision not to appeal the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court’s decision at the U.S. Supreme Court.
Although there are there are still some sectors in the local community who we feel are opposed to our cause to be granted U.S. citizenship, there are also many who supported us.
First, I would like to thank my stateless friends who never gave up on our fight; second, Gov. Juan N. Babauta and his administration, for listening and lobbying for us even to the U.S. Congress.
Thanks too to Rep. Clyde Norita for his undying support, the Attorney General’s Office, Atty. Reynaldo Yana, the justices at the U.S. Ninth Circuit and countless others who believe we should be given the chance to become Americans.
Now, the victory is ours. We have the great American dream
Matt Elbo Jr.
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