Short-cutting the citizenship process

Second part of a series[/I]

Let us now take a serious look at the practical application of the proposed language contained in Section 2109 of S. 744, granting adjusted immigration status and subsequent U.S. citizenship to more than 12,000 foreign aliens in the Commonwealth. This issue has brought the Chamorros and Carolinians much closer together than any single political conversation. This is so because NMDs are beginning to realize just how atrociously damaging the impact will be upon them and that of their children. Never in the cultural and political history of Chamorros and Carolinians where the threat of cultural annihilation is so imminent than the introduction of S. 744, with its Section 2109 and H.R. 15. As conversations spread all over the Commonwealth about the monstrous and frightening cultural, social, and political genocide to befall upon the Chamorros and Carolinians, our people are now reacting and voicing their complete resentment with their delegate to Washington, Gregorio Sablan, through the petition. Such discontent is evident by the outpouring requests to participate in the petition drive. What group of people will not react knowing that, by the stroke of a presidential signature, the entire ethnic community will be wiped away? A cultural collision in a “climatic–fusion-effect” is very likely should Delegate Sablan’s New Year’s gift to Chamorros and Carolinians go through Congress. The Commonwealth will be seeing the like of a civil and cultural war, a very unfortunate prospect for such a peaceful and friendly people to be placed in this dreadful predicament by their very own delegate to Congress.

While I am on the subject of representation, let me give an unsolicited advice to my friend and our delegate to Congress. Do not push your luck with the Chamorro and Carolinian voters—you have already burned your bridges with constituents that were once so loyal to you. These former supporters of yours have a couple of very effective political options, besides the petitions, which have been used elsewhere very powerfully. If it becomes absolutely necessary that we shift our strategy to this option, we will marshal the power of our people to begin the process. Looking at how our people were handling the petition drive, I cannot be more encouraged that we will successfully succeed.

Delegate Sablan’s unshakable and submissive loyalty to foreign aliens is his own business and is not the issue that is in disagreement. What NMDs are protesting and perhaps will never consent to 1) To aid and abet in their own cultural demise, 2) Delegate Sablan’s total disregard to educate and properly consult with the Chamorros and Carolinians, 3) His cavalier and arrogant attitude about the legitimate concerns of Chamorros and Carolinians, 4) Refusal to take full responsibility for igniting this avoidable and unnecessary controversy, and 5) Arrogantly placing blame on NMDC members for defending themselves from the potential intrusions of other cultural groups into the comfort of our own traditional and cultural sphere. Who will not react to the blatant disregard for their opinions and consent? Why place your own people through these subjugations? Who can say that we do not have the right to protect and promote our cultural existence? What have the Chamorros and Carolinians done to deserve all these malcontents? We have welcomed all guests into our homes and islands irrespective of origin, and have been very hospitable and gracious, at times to our own disadvantage. However, we have never demonstrated in the streets to register our displeasure and dissatisfaction. Why the speedy attempt to circumvent an already existing federal statute dealing with immigration affecting aliens here in the Commonwealth? After all, the law that these foreign aliens asked for, petitioned on their behalf, lobbied restlessly in favor of and demonstrated throughout the streets on Saipan appealing to Congress for its passage have already been granted to them since May 2008. U.S. Congress’ enactment of the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008 or Public Law 110-229 was due to the overwhelming demand by foreign aliens themselves and different interests’ parties supporting their cause, including the Saipan Chamber of Commerce. It is important to point out that the enactment of Public Law 110-229 makes applicable the U.S. immigration law as defined by the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 that covers legal processes by which foreign aliens must follow to gain adjusted status and eventual citizenship. The only substantial difference between P.L. 110-229 and S. 744 and HR. 15 is simply politics by shortcutting the already established processes. Public Law 110-229 was what our foreign alien guests asked for back in 2006. Now they must take full ownership of the law.