Alien workers’ group raises issues with feds

A foreign workers group has outlined issues it wants included in the new immigration regulations in a meeting with federal officials earlier this week.

A more permanent immigration status, expedited processing of temporary worker visas for qualified guest workers, and a limited amnesty for overstaying alien workers are some of the provisions that the Coalition of United Workers asked the U.S. government to consider as the new immigration law is implemented in the Commonwealth.

Irene Tantiado, president of the Coalition of United Workers, presented these requests in a meeting last Monday with visiting officials of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and other agencies tasked with drafting the regulations. The federal delegation left Wednesday.

Tantiado said the federal officials appeared to be “considerate and sympathetic” to her group’s requests, but they offered no commitment. “As I’ve said, there were no false hopes,” she said yesterday.

Tantiado reported that, in the meeting, the coalition repeated its plea for permanent residency for long-time guest workers in the Northern Marianas. According to Tantiado, the federal officials indicated that the issuance of “green cards” is unlikely in the near future, especially with a new administration taking over the White House in 2009.

The federal officials also reportedly raised concern that foreign workers might leave the CNMI once able to live and work elsewhere in the United States. In response, Tantiado said, she suggested that the new green card holders be required to stay in the Commonwealth for a certain period of time—two or three years, for instance—before allowing them to move to Guam or the states.

The gradual reduction of guest workers in the Commonwealth was also discussed in the meeting. According to Tantiado, the federal officials said that guest workers would be allowed in the Commonwealth for as long as they are needed.

The coalition urged for expedited processing of H visas for foreign workers who “clearly” qualify for them, and special consideration for workers who may qualify for H visas and who have worked in the CNMI for three or more years.

Tantiado’s group also asked the federal official to permit currently overstaying aliens to register with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service and seek lawful employment status. The group proposed that those unable to find work within 12 months of registration be allowed to leave the CNMI at their own expense, instead of being deported.

The coalition further asked that the U.S. government assign permanent officers to enforce federal wage, anti-discrimination, and workplace safety laws in the Commonwealth.