In Their Own Words – Tenorio

As a negotiator of the Covenant, I fought for a permanent exemption from the Immigration and Nationality Act, but we were only granted a temporary exemption under Article V of Section 503a. The fundamental premise behind this grant of authority was: We were supposed to use our temporary immigration control authority to insulate the CNMI from refugees and other U.S. bound immigrants from using our Commonwealth as U.S. soil in order to obtain permanent residency and eventually citizenship, and to supplement our local workforce to build our economy. We instead built an economy dependent on foreign workers.

Over the first 20 years of our Commonwealth, our economy grew in size and in its dependence on foreign labor. Foreign workers began supplanting locals in our private sector workforce, and their numbers continued to grow. Employment of our local workforce became secondary, and we stopped thinking about private sector employment opportunities for our high school and college graduates. We underestimated the potential problems associated with managing a foreign workforce, and we initially lacked the regulatory sophistication necessary to protect workers’ rights.

We drew criticism from some members of the U.S. Congress, some of it warranted, some not. We attracted attention of human rights activists and the national media, both of which were willing to exaggerate reports of problems and repeat those reports year after year. True or not, they formed the basis for extensive biased and damaging public opinion. Our once respected and envied Commonwealth became a source of controversy to many in the United States. Congress repeatedly called for reform and introduced legislation to federalize our immigration.
[B] My stance on federalization of immigration[/B]

It was not any member of Congress or any activist who influenced my position. I believed for several years that we could turn things around: I supported reforms, an increase in the minimum wage, and hiring local U.S. citizens in the private sector. However, there was a lack of consistent commitment to the changes necessary to permanently improve our labor and immigration system.

There was an increasing awareness in Congress of the immigration and labor problems we have struggled with in the CNMI, and a growing concern after 9/11 that our control over immigration posed a threat to national security. As a realist, I know that neither I, nor the Governor, nor the Legislature, nor the business community had any choice but to accept the goal of the 110th Congress to federalize our immigration. The political tides had turned and the high price paid to prevent federalization in the 1990’s was no longer available.

Although very controversial, my support for the intent of H.R. 3079 and S. 1634, allowed me to represent the people of the CNMI in House and Senate working groups as the bills were drafted and refined. I worked diligently to ensure that the bills’ provisions were not harmful, provided flexibility, supported the needs of the business community, respected the Chamorro and Carolinian peoples and recognized the role of the nonresidents. For the most part, the Senate Energy Committee and the House Natural Resources Committee accepted my suggestions.

I will continue the work I have begun as your Resident Representative to ensure that the regulations provide the flexibility and the sensitivity the CNMI needs during the transition process. I have already:

requested the agencies that will be promulgating regulations to develop the interagency agreement that is required by law;

requested an extension of the first transition period to ensure an adequate workforce while we train and prepare our youth to take over jobs from non-residents;

requested the Department of Homeland Security to waive income requirements for immediate relatives spouses of U.S. citizens, and reduce the standard fees for those spouses to obtain green cards; and

met with DHS officials about the visa waiver program, supported the Joint CNMI Guam proposal for handling Chinese and Russian tourists, and stressed the importance of the Chinese and Russian markets to the CNMI especially Tinian.

I will continue to monitor the development of regulations to ensure that the guest worker program is responsive to the needs of the private sector and allows the CNMI to attract new investors.

As your Delegate I will continue to seek public opinion and input through public discussions and forums. I will also ensure that the many reports and studies required by Public Law 110-229 are completed in a timely manner and provide the necessary data to make informed decisions. I am specifically concerned about an ongoing need for a waiver for H visas and the extension of the visa waiver program to provide long-term visas for retirees, students and investors.

We created an untenable situation under local control of immigration, and it will take time, effort, and stewardship to ensure that the process of federalization does not create new levels of social and economic problems. With my experience negotiating the Covenant, the relationships I have built in Congress, my intimate knowledge of Public Law 110-229, and my dedication to leaving a healthy and prosperous CNMI to future generations, I am confident that I am the best candidate to tackle the many challenges that could arise over the next few years with the implementation of federal authority over immigration.

Regardless of the fact that Congress enacted this legislation, the CNMI must change. We must reduce our reliance on foreign workers. We must train our young people for jobs in the private sector. We must reduce the size of our government. We must reduce the wage discrepancy between the government and the private sector.

Thank you for this opportunity to share my thoughts with you on the issue of federalization.