28 Dec 2009

Northern Marianas petition backs green cards for long term non-residents

2:32 pm on 28 December 2009

Worker groups in the Commonweatlh of the Northern Marianas have already gathered at least 4,600 written and electronic signatures as part of a petition to support non resident workers.

The petition asks the U.S. government to grant green card or lawful permanent residence status to long-time non-resident workers and relatives of U.S. citizens in the Northern Marianas.

A Florida-based human rights activist and former Rota teacher, Wendy Doromal, who started the online petition, says the numbers have exceeded expectations.

She says she's confident of reaching at least 5 thousand.

She told the Saipan Tribune newspaper she felt confident the U.S. Congress will eventually grant status to those non-residents who have been in the CNMI for at least five years.