Speech #1090172660

The threat from North Korea. tension between Taiwan and China. and terrorist activity in the nations of Southeast Asia. all underscore the strategic importance of the Marianas. Yet the lack of institutional capacity to secure the borders underscores the vulnerability of the Marianas. and the Nation. Border control is an inherently sovereign function. and given the increasing importance of the Marianas. the increased threats they face. and the obligation of the President to protect all U.S. communities. this function can no longer be delegated to local authorities. A third reason for congressional action is the CNMIs lack of capacity to screen for criminals entering the islands. This deficiency has contributed to the establishment of organized crime elements from Japan. China. and Russia in the community and to an increase in illegal drug. gambling. prostitution. and trafficking crimes associated with such elements. The 1997 INS report found that: "[There are] serious deficiencies in all facets of the Marianas current system of immigration enforcement and control" and "There appears to be universal recognition amongst the Mariana Government Authorities that various organized crime groups. such as the Japanese Yakuza. the Chinese Triads. and the Russian Mafia have made inroads into the Marianas . . . Few of these persons are ever detected at the portofentry or apprehended while in the Marianas." The report recommended that Congress enact legislation to extend the Immigration and Nationality Act. A fourth reason for congressional action is to change CNMI immigration and labor policies that are unsustainable and contribute to the distress the community now faces. The CNMI. promotes the use of guest workers to fill virtually all private sector jobs: unskilled. skilled. and even professional jobs. In addition. both the CNMI Government and the private sector earn income from the hiring of alien workers but not from hiring U.S. citizens. Consequently. those U.S. citizens who cannot find increasingly scarce Government work are left to go on welfare or emigrate. Unemployment is conservatively estimated at 14 percent and rising. An astounding 65 percent of children are on food assistance.