Under false pretenses

Under false pretenses, you were led to believe that by participating in certain foreign guest worker groups, you will get your green cards or U.S. passports. With much thought, someone had the desire of appealing to the U.S. Congress to grant improved status to all who resided legally on the islands over the years. They detest the idea of standing in line and just wanted to leapfrog their way to improved status. They attended the iconic rally (exploiting their children /holding placards), prayer vigils, and countless meet-and-greets with officials from the Department of the Interior. Regardless of different groups, all have the same goal: To achieve that American dream the easy way they know how.

Although the CNMI acknowledges the fact that many were mistreated, discriminated, under-paid, and owed back wages, I doubted that your employer physically abused or imprisoned you against your will. Even if you succeeded in your labor case/s or judgments in small claims court, your chances of collecting what is owed you is slim to none. With that said, in general, the CNMI is not at fault as to why your employer did you wrong. Lack of enforcement and petty penalties do little harm to former or current employer. Fortunately, as afforded to you by the U.S. Constitution, it’s your privilege to exercise your right to be given fairness and equality and find justification. Still, like I said, it is not always that things will pan out your way. Nothing is fair in a democratic society. I concede that not everyone is treated fairly and that is just the grotesque reality.

At present, there is no indication that Congress will grant parole for unemployed workers. With less than a month’s time, it may take years for Congress to hear the plight of nonresidents. By then, it’s past 2014 and you are no longer here. So is it really worth to continue fighting for improved status? Now, Dekada and several individuals are suing in the U.S. District Court of the NMI to have the CW rule be declared unconstitutional. Didn’t they ask the federal government for improved status? Now they are biting the hand that tried to feed them? It is my understanding that the Dekada movement convinced hundreds, if not thousands, to pay a $100 membership fee. Now they filed the suit pro se and I always thought that the $100 membership fee was for attorney’s costs. Either I am confused or misinformed. How far did that money got you and was it all worth it? By the looks of it, you were scammed of $100 and it’s $100 less in your savings account that could have gone to your children’s needs. My good friend Rabby Syed said and I quote, “that many were out of work after Nov. 28, 2009.” Ask yourself Mr. Syed, what led to that? Weren’t you one of those leaders who made the racket that led to this disaster? You can only hope for more hope because change is not coming anytime soon. Enough damage has been done and after Nov. 27 the fate of many will be decided.

None of this would have transpired if none of this racket ever took place. Where are the other group leaders now? Why are they out of the limelight? I sense betrayal. You can add “character assassination” to your lifetime of accomplishments. Whether you call it “Occupy USCIS” or “Occupy heaven or hell” no change is coming anytime soon. The unceasing habit of still hoping for improved status must come to a screeching halt. It’s become a shameful, if not an annoying request. As adamant as you may be, you must accept it, absorb it, and get on with it and focus to how you would prepare for the impending Nov. 27, 2011, date. Time is of the essence and I suggest preparations must be done soonest for an early transition.

You can’t put the blame on our island but yourself and your colleagues who walk and talk and share the same hopeless ideals. Remember that since the beginning, the CNMI’s stance was “no” to improved status to all legal workers but for all to remain and continue working. The CNMI knew that if your plan materialized and you all leave, it will have an adverse effect on the economy. For once the CNMI government was right about something. But no, you were determined to think otherwise. This is what happened: Local immigration was taken over by the feds by your own doing. I have found it humorous because at one point, foreign workers cried victory because they again—based on hearsay—thought the federal government had taken over the entire Commonwealth. Who in hell just lied to you? Yes, Malou Berueco, you rallied and got immigration federalized. It is so federalized that the feds are the ones phasing your people out of the islands! It is becoming annoying that many folks are so gullible and believe anything based on hearsay. It’s a known fact that, about three years ago, a ranking member of Congress had already pronounced that no one would be given improved status. Why was that so hard to comprehend? Are we speaking another language here?

Now businesses are scrambling to finance the fees to petition their employees. See what you made your employer start doing! Do you think that there is enough money to retain all their employees? You claimed to have built the economy but all I see is you folks reducing it to ruins. Is this what you have envisioned? Enough damage has been done and I believe it is time for the local workforce to prove itself. We are determined to move forward.

I do know why businesses are reluctant to hire locals. They say locals lack trade skills and the ability to consistently show up for work. To a certain degree that may be true but not all locals have that behavior. There will always be individuals that don’t perform as well as others. There is always a bad apple in a bunch. So tell me, who are really being discriminated against? Businesses need to practice the hire-and-fire strategy until such time they find a capable employee. And I will make myself clear to all doubting contract workers: We were fine before you all came and we will be fine when you all leave. At some point, our local people must do things on our own. How can we prove ourselves when we were not given that chance? If we locals reduce the businesses to crumbs then so be it. Simple math suggest that if 5,000 of our unemployed locals fill those jobs currently taken by foreign workers, we will have 5,000 local employees whose money earned would be spent in the CNMI. That money will circulate within the CNMI and the CNMI economy will see an increase in revenue. Even better if the local workforce could go three-fold or better.

There was already an existing system to apply for green card or U.S. citizenship. Pick a number and stand in line. It is unfair for those who waited years to obtain one. All I see is more forms to fill at the expense of employers. Your children were enjoying free education and other perks, only to be cut short because of someone selling you a dream. None of this would have happened if someone had just kept silent. In recent reports, the CNMI government has spent over a million dollars in dialysis. A million? Federal law states whether you have insurance or not, our local hospital could not deny you medical services. To compare, your hospital back home will deny me services if I don’t pay the bill outright. Yet the CNMI absorbs the costs associated with your medical services or welfare. The CNMI is not getting reimbursed by your country. What has your country ever done for the CNMI? You are here because you came here to work. Now that you are without a job you don’t want to leave until you get what you want and head east.

Saying that you are applying for green card or U.S. citizenship because of years of prolonged stay is a shameful request. Because you allowed assumptions and hearsay dictate your life, it just contributed to more hardships and instability to your family. This letter was not intended to anger, annoy, or hurt anyone but to tell you can’t always get what you want. Your fate will be decided come Nov. 27. It all started as an idea. An idea that sounded so good it turned so bad. Good luck to you, your family, and future endeavors.