Speech #1050085187

These abuses are happening in our own backyard. Because of that. we cannot look the other way and allow them to continue when they are occurring in the U.S. jurisdiction. The covenant agreement adopted by Congress and the CNMI gave local control of immigration and the minimum wage to the Commonwealth. In establishing the covenant. the residents of the CNMI expressed concern that Federal immigration laws would permit excessive immigration to the islands from neighboring countries thus overwhelming the local culture and community. Isnt it ironic that these policies have produced the opposite result. U.S. citizens are now a minority of the population. Temporary alien workers now compromise 60 percent of the total labor force and 90 percent of the private sector labor force. In response to calls that the CNMI be subject to U.S. immigration and wage laws. the Governor and various local leaders spoke out stating they would prefer independence than to fall under our laws. My response to the Government and other local leaders is this: OK. Lets bring this issue to the citizens who live in the CNMI. Lets ask the people: Shall the CNMI be governed under U.S. immigration and wage laws or shall the CNMI seek independence. The days of status quo have come and gone. We now must take responsibility for the abuses occurring and take measures to remedy them.