USCIS: CW-1 limit may be expected this week

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services may set the CW-1 cap limit this week.

According to USCIS public affairs officer Arwen Fitzgerald, who handles USCIS matters in Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico, the agency hopes the limit would be set within this week.

“We are waiting for the Federal Register notice for the fiscal year 2018 CW-1 cap limit to be signed and released,” he said in an email to Saipan Tribune.

Separately, a statement from the Office of the Governor yesterday suggested that a possible White House investigation is the cause for the delay in setting the CW-1 limit for the fiscal year 2018, one month well into the fiscal year.

Press secretary Kevin Bautista told Saipan Tribune that Gov. Ralph DLG Torres was informed in early October 2017 that USCIS had proposed a “substantial reduction” for the fiscal year 2018 CW-1 limit.

The fiscal year 2017 CW-1 limit was set at 12,998. The fiscal year prior’s CW-1 limit was at 12,999.

He added that Torres was informed that the “substantial” reduction was due to the language in Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan’s (Ind-MP) H.R. 339, as well as Congress’ outdated unemployment figures.

“In response to this information, governor [Torres] spoke with the White House and the deputy chief of staff of the President and the White House Intergovernmental Affairs Office to request their assistance on behalf of the CNMI people,” said Bautista.

“During governor’s trip to [Washington] D.C., he met with the Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs, the White House, and USCIS to bring forward the economic harm a dramatic reduction would bring to the CNMI economy in this timeframe, as well as the many efforts done by the local government and the private sector to recruit, hire, and train U.S. workers,” he said, adding that Torres continues to pursue “all avenues to advocate on behalf of the CNMI” on this issue.

According to Bautista, the “substantial reduction,” in which the amount was not specified, was possibly brought about by the White House looking into the CNMI economy.

“This is appreciated and, in the longer term, beneficial for the continuation of our economic growth and providing opportunities to our citizens. The governor is thankful for the response and time given to him by the Trump administration to hear our needs and appreciates the attention our concerns have received from President Trump and his staff,” said Bautista, adding that Torres remains “hopeful” that the CNMI economic growth and efforts to address concerns brought by “differing parties” allow the continuation of economic progress.

“The goal of the administration continues to be the development of the local capacity within our workforce to meet the needs of our economy and the mandates of Public Law 110-229, but simultaneously advocate for the CNMI in ensuring our federal partners in Washington, D.C. understand that our economic growth and job opportunities for U.S. workers relies on the access and presence of foreign workers,” said Bautista.

In a separate statement from Sablan, he believes that the CW-1 limit should only be reduced by one, just as the previous two fiscal years.

“My position is that the 2018 cap should go down by one—just one—to 12,997,” he said.

“That would be the safest decision for the Northern Marianas economy right now,” said Sablan, adding that he would “not speculate on why the Trump administration has not yet made a decision” on the fiscal year 2018 CW-1 cap.