17 Aug 2007

CNMI politicians urges review of US link over immigration stand-off

3:38 pm on 17 August 2007

A group of lawmakers in the Northern Marianas is calling for a review of the political relationship with the United States.

This comes amid ongoing federal attempts to take over the local immigration system.

Representative Stanley T. Torres has sponsored a bill to create the Second Marianas Political Status Commission.

Relations come under the mutually negotiated Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States.

But the new bill proposes the creation of a commission made up of indigenous residents to examine the provisions of the Covenant, the actions of the United States in interpreting and implementing the Covenant, the right of the Northern Marianas to submerged lands and the right to secession.

The commission would also look at alternative political and economic status options for the Northern Marianas, and recommend a future political status for adoption in a plebiscite.