Entry permits not valid after June 1

Anyone outside the CNMI who has a CNMI Immigration status will lose that status when the federalization law takes effect on June 1, 2009, according to the local Immigration chief.

“In order for anyone to come into the CNMI on or after June 1, 2009, they will have to have a U.S. Immigration document to enter the CNMI,” according to CNMI Immigration Director Melvin Grey in a public notice issued Tuesday. The notice was posted at Immigration offices.

The Immigration official said that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has informed the CNMI that local Immigration documents—entry permits—will not be valid for boarding any aircraft or sea vessel to return to the Commonwealth on or after June 1, 2009.

This means that an alien worker who leaves the CNMI and fails to return before the June 1 cutoff will not be allowed to enter the islands unless he or she has a valid U.S. Immigration document, such as a U.S. visa.

Grey said there will be no exceptions to the federal policy.

Documents that will be rendered invalid after June 1 include entry permits, visitor entry permits, electronic visitor entry permits, authorization for entry for employment, re-entry letters, authorization to board, and CNMI permanent resident cards.

“Anyone having a U.S. visitor B1/B2 visa or any other U.S. visa may enter the CNMI but they may not enter the CNMI and then resume their CNMI status,” the director said.

Press secretary Charles Reyes told Saipan Tribune yesterday that, based on the administration’s understanding from Homeland Security, there may be a risk for contract workers who are legally employed in the CNMI if they go home for a vacation after federalization takes effect on June 1.

“We are concerned that there may be a risk, that the workers may not be able to come back under our laws. They may have to conform to the U.S. immigration laws. So that’s something that we need to get a clarification from Homeland Security,” Reyes said.

He said all alien workers should be concerned about this because there are a lot of uncertainties.

“Still the regulations [on federalization] are not finalized yet. We are trying to get more information but we understand that these are some of the risks,” Reyes said.

He said if alien workers leave the CNMI after June 1, they may have to come back under the U.S. Immigration policy, not the CNMI Immigration policy.

“That means a different standard, then they have to make sure that they have to follow those standards, which may be more difficult than the current situation,” Reyes said.

He said Gov. Benigno R. Fitial has always been concerned about federalization.

“It is interesting because I think that now more and more people are starting to wake up and realize that what the governor has been saying all along about federalization seems to be increasingly true,” Reyes said.

He said Fitial had been warning even before the federalization law was passed that this is going to be very detrimental to the CNMI’s society and economy.

“Some people didn’t believe, including members of the Legislature, just how bad the situation could be,” Reyes added.