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Second Section 902 meeting takes place on Saipan
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Posted on Apr 10 2019
U.S. federal team in the CNMI. (Contributed Photo)
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Last week in the CNMI, Gov. Ralph DLG Torres hosted Doug Domenech, U.S. Department of the Interior assistant secretary, Insular and International Affairs, and a federal delegation for the second meeting in a formal Section 902 Consultation process in regard to the Department of Homeland Security’s review of existing parole policies related to tourism.
“We appreciate our federal partners for taking the time to come all the way from Washington, D.C. to discuss critical issues that affect our economic viability and tourism industry. During this second round of talks, our CNMI team invited our local Legislature, law enforcement officials, tourism industry leaders, and healthcare providers to discuss further collaboration with our federal partners,” said Torres.
“I am pleased that my federal colleagues from the departments of Homeland Security, State, Defense, and the Office of Management and Budget were able to meet in the CNMI as we collectively discussed federal parole policies,” said Domenech.
Following the 902 Consultation and meetings on Saipan on Tuesday, April 2, 2019, the federal delegation also met with officials on Tinian.
The 902 consultation process is authorized by Section 902 of the Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States of America, and codified in 48 U.S.C. Section 1801, which defines the unique relationship between the CNMI and the United States.
In response to a formal request from the CNMI government on Oct. 19, 2018, the Section 902 consultation process was invoked to discuss discretionary parole policies.
President Donald J. Trump appointed Domenech to be the federal government’s representative on the panel.
The first meeting of this particular 902 consultation took place in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 28, 2019.
Domenech and the federal team anticipate providing a report to Torres by April 21, 2019. (PR)
