*EPF206 02/08/00
Senate Passes Northern Mariana Islands Bill Feb. 7
(Bill sets up system for temporary foreign workers) (330)
By Steve La Rocque
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- The Senate passed February 7 a bill that amends the covenant between the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the United States to bring the commonwealth's immigration policies into compliance with those of the United States.

The bill, S. 1052, introduced by Senator Frank Murkowski (Republican of Alaska) in May 1999, was aimed at creating "an effective system of immigration control" for the commonwealth located north of Guam in the western Pacific, by ensuring "uniform adherence to long-standing fundamental immigration policies of the United States," according to the bill's statement of purpose.

The bill, passed by unanimous consent, would extend the provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act "in full" to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, with special provisions to allow for "the orderly phasing-out of the nonresident contract worker program" of the commonwealth and the "orderly phasing-in of federal responsibilities" over immigration in the commonwealth.

The transition period, according to the bill, will last until December 31, 2009, after which there would no longer be permits for employers to bring in temporary alien workers who would otherwise be ineligible for admission under the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Any permit issued before December 31, 2009 could only be valid up to that date, the bill says.

Those deadlines notwithstanding, the bill does make provision for consultation between the U.S. Attorney General, the U.S. Secretary of Labor, the Governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and tourism businesses to see if there is an adequate supply of workers for the tourism industry, and whether there should be a five-year extension of the system of bringing in temporary alien workers.

(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: usinfo.state.gov)
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