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Ex-stateless recognized today
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Posted on Apr 08 2005
The granting of U.S. citizenship to some 300 “stateless individuals” in the CNMI will be formally celebrated in a government-participated ceremony at American Memorial Park today.
The event will be attended by top government leaders headed by Gov. Juan N. Babauta and Rep. Clyde K. Norita.
The governor will deliver the opening remarks while Norita would give the closing remarks.
Current affairs and history instructor Sam McPhetres will be the group’s guest speaker.
It was Norita who authored the bill that granted the ex-stateless children permanent residency in the CNMI. The bill enabled the stateless children to remain in the CNMI while they pursued efforts to be granted U.S. citizenship.
Meantime, ex-stateless group leader Randy Mendoza said yesterday that he has received his U.S. passport.
“I got it! My U.S. passport is with me now,” Mendoza said.
He said today’s ceremony, to be held from 3pm to 6pm at AMP amphitheater, is open to the public.
Today’s celebration came after the U.S. State Department decided last February not to appeal a Court of Appeals ruling acknowledging the American citizenship of the “stateless persons”—those born to foreign parents in the CNMI from Jan. 9, 1978 to Nov. 3, 1986.
Mendoza said no U.S. citizenship swearing-in would take place today because they are considered natural-born—not naturalized—Americans.
Mendoza said today’s event is the group’s initiative.
He said members of the group should wear semi-formal attire with white tops for today’s celebration.
