Guest workers begin three-day assembly today

Six guest worker groups will start a three-day peaceful assembly in front of the TSL Plaza in Garapan today to voice their concerns on the issue of long-term immigration status.

The groups are inviting all guest workers in the CNMI to join them during the 72-hour rally starting at 7am.

In a statement, the groups said the assembly’s purpose is to ask the Interior Secretary to recommend to the U.S. Congress to permit admitted guest workers lawfully residing in the CNMI to apply for long-term status, as stated in the provisions of Public Law 110-229.

The statement was signed by Boni Sagana of Dekada Movement, Rabby Syed of the United Workers Movement, Ernest Maicle of MOVER, Ronnie Doca of Pilipino Contract Workers Association Inc., and workers group leaders Rene Reyes and Teddy Luna.

The workers will be holding the peaceful assembly until Wednesday.

Since the assembly falls on workdays, the workers’ groups are suggesting that people come and stay for a few hours before or after work hours.

“You can also come and spend your lunch or dinner breaks there,” said the groups.

The groups also urged people to bring water, snacks, food, folding chairs, umbrellas, candles, or flashlight.

“No one is certain what the outcome of this assembly would be, but remember that no one is also certain of what the guest workers’ fate will be once the federalization of CNMI immigration gets implemented in November,’ they said.

The law says in part “that the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Governor of the CNMI, shall report to Congress no later than two years after the enactment of the 2008 Consolidated Natural Resources Act” to recommend to Congress “related to whether or not it should consider permitting lawfully admitted guest workers lawfully residing in the Commonwealth…to apply for long term status under the immigration and nationality laws of the United States.”

The groups said it would be better to take a stand now, rather than wait.

“We did it before and we can do it again. Let us show our strength in unity,” the groups said.

The group said there is no guarantee that their request would be granted but they firmly believe that if they stand united “our voice would be loud enough.”