A Senate draft report to the U.S. Congress is recommending foreign workers who have been in the Northern Marianas for at least 10 years be given status similar to Freely Associated States citizens.
But leaders of two alien worker groups said they want outright U.S. citizenship or permanent residency.
FAS citizens are those from Palau, the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia's Pohnpei, Chuuk, Kosrae and Yap.
They are allowed to live, work, and study in the U.S. and its territories.
"The draft report, a copy of which was obtained by Saipan Tribune, also added that foreign workers who have violated any CNMI or federal law other than a traffic law will not be eligible to receive the Senate's proposed immigration status."
