Pinoys in CNMI press key US official on immigration bill

SUSUPE, Saipan – About a thousand Filipinos met with a key US government official on Saturday night, hoping to find out “how soon" either of two bills pending in the US Congress that allows over 8,000 long-term foreign workers in the CNMI to apply for a non-immigrant status, will be passed and enacted into law. “Can you give us a time frame? How sure? How soon?" were the questions often asked during the two-hour meeting. It was one of the biggest gatherings so far of the Filipino community in the CNMI since S. 1634 and H.R. 3079 were introduced this year in the US Congress. David Cohen, the deputy assistant secretary of the US Department of the Interior for Insular Affairs, repeatedly said there`s no telling how soon US Congress will act on the bills at this time but he said the federal government is very much aware of the plight of thousands of long-term foreign workers in the CNMI. The workers said while they understand that there is no guarantee that the bills will be passed within the year as Cohen repeatedly stressed during the meeting, they are thankful that Cohen found the time to meet with them to directly hear their concerns. “It shows the Filipino workers are important to him and the federal government. We are thankful for that," said Ed Reyes, a leader of various Filipino groups in the CNMI, who has been working here as an engineer for 10 years now. The two bills – which seek to apply US laws on the CNMI immigration system – are up for redrafting. One of the bills, S. 1634, was drafted by Cohen upon the request of the US Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Cohen told local media that changes to S. 1634 are mostly technical in nature. He said the provision in S. 1634 granting non-immigrant status to thousands of long-term migrant workers in the CNMI will stay despite opposition from CNMI Governor Benigno R. Fitial. Workers asked Cohen about what the federal government could do to help them after legally working for five, 10, 20 or more years in the CNMI, only to be sent home to the Philippines when their contract is no longer renewed – ahead of the passage of either S. 1634 or H.R. 3079, the two CNMI immigration bills. Cohen reiterated what US Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne had said during his visit to Saipan in June, that the federal government could give long-term workers an immigration status in the CNMI if they lose their current status due to changes in the economy or due to the federalization bills. “We`re paying attention to this," said Cohen, drawing cheers from the Filipino community gathered in the lobby of the Marianas Business Plaza building, which also houses the Philippine Consulate General, the Philippine Overseas Labor Office and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration. “We don`t know for sure if and when this legislation passes, and what changes will be made at this time," he said. Cohen clarified that S. 1634, as well as H.R. 3079, grants “non-immigrant status" to eligible long-term guest workers, and not “permanent residency" or US citizenship. “Permanent residency" is granted to qualified non-US citizens who successfully apply to become “immigrants." Permanent residents get “green cards" and are generally eligible to apply for US citizenship after five years. A non-immigrant status will allow eligible workers to freely travel, work and study anywhere in the United States, its territories and its possessions – the same privileges currently enjoyed by citizens of the Freely Associated States or those from Palau, the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia. It was the second time that Cohen met with the Filipino community in the CNMI; the first one was in March when he was still drafting the bill which later became S. 1634. Earlier on Saturday, Cohen also met with members of the Chinese community in the CNMI. Cohen also told the workers that he does not condone taking anger on contract workers or any group of people related to the anxiety or confusion about the impact of the federalization bills on the CNMI. A few weeks ago, a group of indigenous Chamorros held a protest holding placards telling foreign workers “to go home, this is our land." Last week, CNMI Governor Benigno R. Fitial told visiting members of the US House of Representatives that the alien workers holding a rally in support of the federalization bills are “illegals." Cohen described the governor`s statement as offensive, disturbing and demeaning. “Even though the governor’s statements had a lot of strong words, I very much respect his prerogative to passionately argue his position so I was not offended by anything in his statement. The one thing that did offend me, however, was the remark that the people protesting outside the venue were all illegals," he said during a press conference. On Saturday, Cohen said “if we can all get along" in the CNMI, then all the issues and concerns raised about the two bills can be worked out. He said S. 1634 addresses the concern of both the local and alien residents of the CNMI. At one point, Cohen said “it`s good that people feel very strongly" about the federalization issue. “This is the US and people have the right to do that," he said, adding that a group of indigenous people, Taotao Tano, also has valid concerns in opposing the granting of improved immigration status to long-term aliens in the CNMI. Jerry Custodio, president of the Human Dignity Act Movement, told GMANews they are still pushing for “green cards" especially for foreign workers who have US citizen children for being born in the CNMI. “We thank Mr. Cohen. We know that our concerns will reach the federal government through him," he added. Cohen was accompanied by US Office of Insular Affairs field representative Jeff Schorr during the meeting, as well as Philippine Consul General to the CNMI Wilfredo DL. Maximo. - GMANEWs.TV