In the CNMI, supporters of Senate bill 2739 over immigration have welcomed the US Senate's move to pass the legislation.
The bill extends U.S. immigration laws to the CNMI, establishes a federally administered guest worker programme, and allows the CNMI to have a non-voting representative in Congress.
The president of the lobby group Dekada, Bonifacio Sagana, says its happy because the passage provides them a small measure of progress in what they have been fighting for.
He says he believes the passage will pave the way for big changes, especially toward fair and just labour and immigration for the good of the workers.
Human rights advocate, Wendy Doromal, told the Saipan Tribune the move is a huge victory for every person who has fought to see an end to labour and human rights abuses in the CNMI.
The bill now heads to the U.S. House, where it has strong bipartisan support.
Once the bill clears the House, it will be sent to the president for his action and will then become law.
