Parole extended for Pinoy parents of US citizens in CNMI
GARAPAN, Saipan -- Non-US citizen Filipinos in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) might be able to extend their stay until December 2012, after the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Thursday (Manila time) that it will consider granting parole to immediate relatives of US citizens and certain "stateless" individuals in the area.
The parole will allow eligible individuals lawfully present in the CNMI by November 27 to maintain legal status until December 31, 2012.
However, the DHS -- through its US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) -- clarified on Thursday that it will be granted on a case-to-case basis.
USCIS also asked people not to apply for this parole "until [it] announces more specific details on how to" do so.
The federal agency said it is providing this initial information in order to address concerns of this group of CNMI residents in light of the pending expiration of umbrella permits on November 27, to assist them in making appropriate plans for the future.
The public is asked to continue checking www.uscis.gov/cnmi for updates on the latest USCIS guidance.
'Best Thanksgiving gift'
In an interview with GMA News Online, Filipinos affected by this immigration issue said the parole is one of the best gifts that they have ever received for Thanksgiving.
For his part, Delegate Gregorio Kilili Sablan (Ind-MP) said the parole will give House Resolution (HR) 1466 -- which he authored -- more time to be passed and signed into law.
"It's welcome news on Thanksgiving Day. These are families that we are trying to help here. And I know the stress that they've been feeling these past two years," Sablan told GMA News Online, adding that the resolution is moving "inch-by-inch."
HR 1466 seeks to grant CNMI-only resident status to:
* immediate relatives of US citizens as of May 8, 2008, and are still in the islands;
* CNMI permanent residents;
* persons born in the CNMI between Jan. 1, 1974 to Jan. 9, 1978; and
* spouses, parents, and children of US citizens under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
According to Sablan, about 4, 000 individuals will benefit from the resolution, most of them immediate relatives of US citizens who cannot or who have not petitioned for their immediate relatives.
While he had previously said that he didn't expect the measure to become law by Nov. 27, the delegate said he hopes it will pass at least the US House of Representatives before the year ends.
Humanitarian parole
Most of those eligible for the parole are jobless Filipino parents with US citizen children born in the CNMI, a US territory about three hours away from Manila.
With their immigration statuses in limbo, many of them have applied for and obtained "parole-in-place for humanitarian consideration" from the USCIS, which allows them to legally remain in the territory until Jan. 31, 2012, while securing a change of status.
To avoid deportation, these foreigners have to either secure a federal immigration status or find a legitimate employer that will petition them for a transitional worker rule by Nov. 27.
However, many of them have yet to find work, and even those with humanitarian parole think that the remaining time may not be enough to do so.
Marilou Ancheta, 52, said it's difficult to find a job in the CNMI given its weakened local economy. She lost her job as a cook in October, after 18 years of legal stay.
Ancheta, who came to the capital of Saipan in 1993 to be a house worker, said she does not want to be apart from her family, especially her two children -- aged 15 and 10.
If given an extension via the newest parole, she said she will work harder to find an employer.
But according to CNMI governor Benigno Fitial, a person eligible for this parole "cannot" work or apply for an employment authorization document (EAD) until he is authorized.
"A grant of parole will provide continuing lawful presence after November 27, 2011 and authorize you to apply for an EAD," the USCIS said.
Fitial also raised concerns over the economic and social consequences that this development might cause.
The cost of letting these unemployed -- and unemployable -- foreigners remain the a very small economy like the CNMI is very high, he said. - RJMD/VVP, GMA News
The parole will allow eligible individuals lawfully present in the CNMI by November 27 to maintain legal status until December 31, 2012.
However, the DHS -- through its US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) -- clarified on Thursday that it will be granted on a case-to-case basis.
USCIS also asked people not to apply for this parole "until [it] announces more specific details on how to" do so.
The federal agency said it is providing this initial information in order to address concerns of this group of CNMI residents in light of the pending expiration of umbrella permits on November 27, to assist them in making appropriate plans for the future.
The public is asked to continue checking www.uscis.gov/cnmi for updates on the latest USCIS guidance.
'Best Thanksgiving gift'
In an interview with GMA News Online, Filipinos affected by this immigration issue said the parole is one of the best gifts that they have ever received for Thanksgiving.
For his part, Delegate Gregorio Kilili Sablan (Ind-MP) said the parole will give House Resolution (HR) 1466 -- which he authored -- more time to be passed and signed into law.
"It's welcome news on Thanksgiving Day. These are families that we are trying to help here. And I know the stress that they've been feeling these past two years," Sablan told GMA News Online, adding that the resolution is moving "inch-by-inch."
HR 1466 seeks to grant CNMI-only resident status to:
* immediate relatives of US citizens as of May 8, 2008, and are still in the islands;
* CNMI permanent residents;
* persons born in the CNMI between Jan. 1, 1974 to Jan. 9, 1978; and
* spouses, parents, and children of US citizens under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
According to Sablan, about 4, 000 individuals will benefit from the resolution, most of them immediate relatives of US citizens who cannot or who have not petitioned for their immediate relatives.
While he had previously said that he didn't expect the measure to become law by Nov. 27, the delegate said he hopes it will pass at least the US House of Representatives before the year ends.
Humanitarian parole
Most of those eligible for the parole are jobless Filipino parents with US citizen children born in the CNMI, a US territory about three hours away from Manila.
With their immigration statuses in limbo, many of them have applied for and obtained "parole-in-place for humanitarian consideration" from the USCIS, which allows them to legally remain in the territory until Jan. 31, 2012, while securing a change of status.
To avoid deportation, these foreigners have to either secure a federal immigration status or find a legitimate employer that will petition them for a transitional worker rule by Nov. 27.
However, many of them have yet to find work, and even those with humanitarian parole think that the remaining time may not be enough to do so.
Marilou Ancheta, 52, said it's difficult to find a job in the CNMI given its weakened local economy. She lost her job as a cook in October, after 18 years of legal stay.
Ancheta, who came to the capital of Saipan in 1993 to be a house worker, said she does not want to be apart from her family, especially her two children -- aged 15 and 10.
If given an extension via the newest parole, she said she will work harder to find an employer.
But according to CNMI governor Benigno Fitial, a person eligible for this parole "cannot" work or apply for an employment authorization document (EAD) until he is authorized.
"A grant of parole will provide continuing lawful presence after November 27, 2011 and authorize you to apply for an EAD," the USCIS said.
Fitial also raised concerns over the economic and social consequences that this development might cause.
The cost of letting these unemployed -- and unemployable -- foreigners remain the a very small economy like the CNMI is very high, he said. - RJMD/VVP, GMA News
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