U.S. territory hits 'amnesty' as threat

The Washington Times ^ | 10-29-07 | Stephen Dinan

[JZelle]

A U.S. territory in the Pacific is battling to stop Congress from imposing federal guest-worker rules and an "amnesty" for current temporary workers, saying aliens could then use the territory as an entry point to get into other places in the U.S.

The government of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) says two bills working their way through Congress to impose federal immigration law on the territory would go back on the 1976 convention with the U.S. and put the islands' economy, already reeling, into a tailspin.

"We think we're much better qualified to administer to our own needs, as opposed to bureaucratic federal offices 9,000 miles away," said Richard Pierce, a special assistant to CNMI Gov. Benigno R. Fitial. "Before this is done, people with expertise in immigration should be working with these congressional committees to make sure they truly understand this is going to create a new class of permanent residents we've never had before."

But those pushing the bill say CNMI, which currently writes its own rules for immigration, is a magnet for human trafficking and is a huge hole in U.S. homeland security. They say the only solution is to impose the U.S. federal immigration system, which would include a new legal status for some long-term foreign workers.

[Cicero]

Sure, I really trust Senator Akaka of Hawaii to do the right thing and tell the truth about it.

I don’t know if I’m for it or against it, but I hope someone with some sense in congress takes a closer look at it.

[AuntB]

Bump for a later read. There’s been lots of lobbying money for some on the Marianas, like Abramoff, Norquist, etc.

[stratboy]

Time to kick the bird out of the nest.....

Sounds like the bird is old enough to fly on its own.
Stop giving them tax payer welfare and cut them loose.

Is there any bases there ?

[Don Corleone]

"We think we're much better qualified to administer to our own needs, as opposed to bureaucratic federal offices 9,000 miles away,

Clearly sedition...who do they think they are? /sarc

[gubamyster]

ping

[Vigilanteman]

With changes in the global economy, CNMI already has lost its competitive edge in garment-making, and jobs are fleeing.

CNMI, when combined with nearby Guam, could easily be a state. I am not saying it is a good idea, just saying it is possible.

The garment factories were built in the days when "Made in the USA" and "textile quotas" actually meant something. Since China was given most favored nation status for trade, these jobs were going to migrate anyway.

CNMI is concerned with newly minited amnesty visa holders staying on to compete with the locals for tourist jobs which will soon return to being the key industry for the islands. This is a legitimate concern. Unlike our own government, CNMI is actually concerned about the impact of flooding their labor market with more workers from third world countries.

[isrul]

I don’t see how imposing US federal immigration policies, as they are now enforced, anywhere is a good thing.

[Cacique]

bfl

[mtbopfuyn]

Mainly because they’re NOT enforced.