Here’s why I did it

A person asked me what prompted me to demonstrate for alien workers at this year’s parade.

I’ve wanted to do something for a long time, but there’s never been a chance. I thought the Independence Day parade would be a good chance for me. I wanted to tell the people in the U.S. that not every state is celebrating happy things, but in some places there are also people treated without justice and in pain.

Many alien workers work hard, obey the law, pay taxes, and stay here for many years with a dream of America. What makes us/me stay here so long is trust in the U.S. system. The U.S. is a democracy with human rights and freedom. But the government just treats alien workers like tools. The government allowed alien workers to come in and build the hotels and garment industries, with the goal of eventually training locals to replace them. But in the end, they found they could not replace all the alien workers, because hotels would have to close.

For many years, the local government has treated alien workers like thieves who come here to take jobs away from locals. Whoever is against us cares more about local benefit or prefers local workers. I think this is a mistake, because alien workers came here and helped build up and develop this island. But the government treats alien workers and investors the same. “If you don’t like it here, you can go,” never mind how much money has been invested here.

After all these many years, alien workers and locals are now almost like a whole family, because many alien workers have worked here for over 10 or 20 years. Some alien workers have already died here. I have a Filipina friend who helps me do housekeeping work; she’s almost 60 years old and has stayed here over 20 years with her husband. She is a very diligent, reliable, and honest worker. Because she’s old, her employer may not renew her CW visa. If she leaves the CNMI, she will be separated from husband. But if she could stay, she could be with her husband and take care of him.

Because they have lived here a long time and their status has not changed, alien workers are just like tied slaves. After all the time they’ve invested here, it would be difficult for them to return home and restart. Even to visit back home, they must pay a $190 fee, and they are never sure if U.S. Immigration will allow them to re-enter. Many of them have children here.

I’ve been here 17 years, and I know lots of people have stayed here longer than me. When I came here many people said staying on Saipan has no future. But as long as there is a bit of hope, we will believe in this great nation until the end. 

What I am thinking is the same as most alien workers, but because they are scared or shy, they hesitate and lack confidence to show it. I hope my demonstration is a spark to unite us all to stand up for our rights. 

If we don’t move, we won’t know how powerful we are.

Respectfully,

Wang Guolong
Garapan, Saipan