Ex-stateless group celebrates US citizenship

Scores of former stateless individuals in the CNMI pledged their allegiance to the United States as they celebrated their U.S. citizenship at the American Memorial Park’s amphitheater Saturday afternoon.

The event became the first official celebration by the former stateless persons after they successfully obtained judicial declaration upholding their American citizenship.

Relatives and friends of the former stateless individuals joined the gathering to witness the celebration that was graced by Gov. Juan N. Babauta and House Rep. Clyde Norita, among others.

“You now have the freedom to achieve your individual hopes and dreams through your continued hard work and dedication,” Babauta said. “I urge you not to look at the accomplishment as an end, but as a beginning of the freedom and opportunity to obtain the objectives, hopes, and dreams that each of you, individually, has as a U.S. citizen.”

The governor also commended members of the group, who have expressed interest to join the military.

Norita also mentioned similar congratulatory remarks for the former stateless individuals. He also explained the significance of two monuments at the park—one for the Chamorros and Carolinians who perished during World War II and another for American soldiers who fought to liberate the islands from imperial rule.

“As you leave American Memorial Park today, I want you to remember its two monuments: for the people who died never having what you now have, and for the people who died so that you can have it and all that it entails: American citizenship. Honor it, and honor the generations who made great personal sacrifices to make it all possible,” Norita said.

Local officials have been vocal in their support to the cause of the group, which numbers around 300. Stateless persons are those born in the Northern Marianas between Jan. 9, 1978 to Nov. 4, 1986—the intervening period between the adoption of the Covenant and its ratification.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit earlier overturned Saipan federal court’s ruling that declared that stateless persons are not U.S. citizens. Later, the appellate court denied the State Department’s request for a rehearing on the case.

The State Department, represented by the Justice Department in the case, did not appeal the appellate court ruling favoring the group, letting the Feb. 13, 2005 filing deadline pass by without submitting a petition for a writ of certiorari before the U.S. Supreme Court.

That writ may be issued to review and inspect the proceedings in the appellate court and determine if there have been any irregularities.

The State Department’s decision not to elevate the proceedings before the Supreme Court came about after several pleas from the group and various CNMI government officials.