Federal agencies reviewing proposed safe haven regs

The proposed safe haven regulations, said to have the backing of the federal government, is still being reviewed by the U.S. Department of the Interior and its sister agencies, according to a ranking federal official.

Deputy Interior Assistant Secretary David Cohen, who heads the U.S. Office of Insular Affairs, said Attorney General Pamela S. Brown had brief him on the general concept of the safe haven project, which would establish a refuge for Vietnamese human trafficking victims in the Commonwealth.

Cohen added that he had objection to the proposal as it was explained to him.

However, OIA has not independently looked into the details behind the proposal. Cohen also said he was not personally familiar with the organizations that would participate in the project.

“We are still reviewing the regulations, and therefore cannot yet comment on their specific provisions. Our approach has been to respect the right of the people of the CNMI, through their elected representatives, to decide important issues for themselves subject to the prerogative of the federal government to protect important federal interests,” Cohen said in an email to Saipan Tribune.

He added, “We are in the process of consulting with appropriate officials from our sister federal agencies and from the legislative branch to determine whether they have any legitimate concerns. If any concerns are identified from the federal side, OIA will attempt to be helpful, as always, in resolving any issues in a manner that is fair to the CNMI.”

Otherwise, he said, OIA would prefer for the questions to be raised by the CNMI people and their elected representatives.

“What is most important is that policy in the CNMI reflect the will of the people of the CNMI. It goes without saying that the people of the CNMI and their elected representatives, particularly those who are about to take office, should be given all of the relevant information and all legitimate questions should be answered,” he said.

“Hopefully, the public hearing scheduled for later this month will offer an opportunity for a full, fair and respectful discussion of the proposal. If the proposal earns the confidence of the people of the CNMI and if our federal colleagues are unable to identify any legitimate overriding federal interests, then OIA will do whatever it can to be supportive,” he added.