Worker groups in the Commonweatlh of the Northern Marianas have already gathered at least 4,600 written and electronic signatures as part of a petition to support non resident workers.
The petition asks the U.S. government to grant green card or lawful permanent residence status to long-time non-resident workers and relatives of U.S. citizens in the Northern Marianas.
A Florida-based human rights activist and former Rota teacher, Wendy Doromal, who started the online petition, says the numbers have exceeded expectations.
She says she's confident of reaching at least 5 thousand.
She told the Saipan Tribune newspaper she felt confident the U.S. Congress will eventually grant status to those non-residents who have been in the CNMI for at least five years.