The Northern Marianas Governor Eloy Inos will back the granting of improved immigration status to long-term foreign workers.
On the US mainland, the Obama administration and members of Congress are looking at granting a pathway to citizenship for millions of undocumented aliens in the US.
But worker groups in the CNMI say the territory should be treated differently because most of the long term foreign workers there arrived legally and continue to contribute to the local economy.
Our correspondent, Mark Rabago, says the Governor released a statement saying he will support a bill when he sees a specific provision for the CNMI.
"He came out with a statement that he supports improved status for legal workers which is a quantum leap from his predecessor Governor Benigno Fitial who always remarked that most of the workers here are illegal and he wouldn't support any kind of improved status for them. So this shows how progressive this new administration thinks."
Mark Rabago.
