Speech #960131682

from Guam. Since the passage of Public Law 94241the joint resolution approving the covenant establishing the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the plebiscite in the Northern Marianas on June 17. 1975. it is only a matter of time until the citizens of the Northern Mariana Islands become citizens or nationals of the United States. In this interim period. however. an unexpected situation has arisen in that while citizens of the Northern Marianas are not yet actually considered U.S. citizens. the Immigration and Naturalization Service has determined that citizens of the Northern Marianas should be treated generally as American citizens and permitted the privilege of entering. traveling. and residing in the United States without being accorded the status of aliens admitted for permanent residence. Unfortunately. under the enlistment statutes for the military only those who are citizens or those who are admitted for permanent residence are eligible for enlistment. Because of this anomaly. citizens of the Northern Marianas are no longer permitted to enlist in the Armed Forces today.