The Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands is a dependent territory of the United States, which means that it is bound by U.S. federal law and legislation.  Since it became a Commonwealth of the United States in 1970, CNMI has handled its own immigration.  Recently, the United States has been pushing for CNMI immigration to be federalized, to the consternation of CNMI local government, through Senate Bill 1634 or House Bill 3079.  (See the Impunity Watch reports here and here.)

U.S. Virgin Islands Rep. Donna Christensen and CNMI Governor Benigno Fitial shake hands after Wednesday’s hearing as House Subcommittee for Insular Affairs staffer Tony Babauta looks on.  (Photo by Jacqueline Hernandez, for the Saipan Tribune.)

U.S. Congresswoman Donna Christensen, delegate for the U.S. Virgin Islands and sponsor of the House version of the bill (H.R. 3079), told the Marianas Variety that there is increasing support for the United States to federalize and assume control over immigration and labor in CNMI.  Christensen was in Saipan on Wednesday to conduct a hearing on the proposed legislation.  Among those present were Guam delegate Madeline Bordallo and American Samoa delegate Eni Faleomavaenga.  Faleomavaenga was less supportive of the proposed measures, and told the Saipan Tribune that  he was concerned about the impact the proposed legislation would have on American Samoa, which also controls its own immigration, and is the only other United States territory to do so.

CNMI Governor Benigno Fitial had strong words for the U.S. government during his testimony on Wednesday, as he has had for the entire span of this proposal.  He criticized the actions of the federal government, particularly during the Trust Territory period, and said, “Anyone who lived under the Trust Territory and today supports federalization provides further evidence of our human impulse to allow hope to triumph over experience.”  [Note: The Trust Territory period refers to the years 1947-1986, when the United States administered the United Nations Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, which was composed of what is now the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Palau, and CNMI.]

Fitial proposed his own border control bill and submitted it to the U.S. House Subcommittee on Insular Affairs during Wednesday’s hearing.  He believes that his version of the bill would be more effective and less invasive than the legislation currently on the table.  Christensen seemed skeptical of Fitial’s proposal during the hearing, but told the media that the subcommittee would review it, and that if there was something that could be added or adjusted in the House version of the bill.  The Senate version of the bill is currently being redrafted to include amendments suggested by David Cohen, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Insular Affairs, who has been working closely with CNMI’s Washington representative, Peter Tenorio.

Cohen and Fitial exchanged heated words via press releases just last week.  Friday, Cohen blasted Fitial for making the comment that those protesting outside the hearing on Wednesday were all “illegals,” stating that while comments against the United States government were not offensive, that particular comment crossed a line.

Meanwhile, members of CNMI’s House have proposed a commission to explore the relationship between CNMI and the United States.  In their proposed legislation, they state that “The people desire to re-examine whether continuing in a ‘commonwealth’ relationship with the United States is in their best interest, or whether some other political status will better enable them to fulfill their aspirations of full and meaningful self-government.”

Please see also:
“Increasing support for Washington takeover, Congresswoman says”  Pacific Magazine (15 August 2007)
“Only minor changes to ISLA”  Saipan Tribune (16 August 2007)
“Fitial proffers own border control bill”  Saipan Tribune (16 August 2007)
“Review of US-CNMI relations pushed”  Saipan Tribune (16 August 2007)
“DOI redrafting US Senate bill”  Saipan Tribune (17 August 2007)
“Fitial’s ‘illegals’ remark unfair – Cohen”  Saipan Tribune (17 August 2007)
“US Senate federalization bill will be redrafted”  Marianas Variety (17 August 2007)

* More of Ms. Hernandez’s photography of the hearing, the first of its kind held on Saipan, can be found on the Saipan Tribune‘s website here.