13 May 2010

CNMI Senate echoes House's objections to US Interior's recommendation

10:52 am on 13 May 2010

In the Northern Marianas, the Senate has backed a House of Representative joint resolution strongly opposing a U.S. Department of Interior report on foreign workers.

The report recommends granting permanent immigration status to long-term foreign workers in the CNMI.

Senators say their main reason for rejecting the Interior report is the lack of consultation with the CNMI governor, before it was finalised and submitted to Washington, D.C. on April 29.

The Interior report recommends to Congress conferring U.S. citizenship, or granting permanent residence status, to foreign workers who have been in the CNMI for at least five years, among five possible options.