“We are fully committed to upholding the highest standards of transparency and strict compliance with all applicable laws. We have informed our employees of their rights throughout this process and remain dedicated to supporting them. Atkins Kroll will continue to cooperate with ICE, prioritizing both legal compliance and the well-being of our employees,” said Tracy Guerrero, general manager of Atkins Kroll Saipan.
It’s the first confirmed case of ICE visiting a business establishment in the CNMI to enforce U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s executive order against illegal immigrants.
In an earlier social media post, former lawmaker Edwin K. Propst warned businesses that ICE was indeed out and about checking on the immigration statuses of CNMI nonresident workers.
“In case you didn't know, ICE is now going into businesses in Saipan asking for papers. If you own or manage a business, be prepared. … They are going after anyone who is undocumented.” In a Feb. 17 press release, Department of Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem announced a nationwide and international multimillion-dollar ad campaign warning illegal aliens to leave the U.S. or face deportation with the inability to return.
Foreign worker advocate Carlito Marquez, also president of Filipino umbrella group United Filipino Organization, said he heard about the purported raids on local establishments.
“Some are really worried especially those who are out of status. But for those with legal status, I don't hear anything negative from them. To those who are legally employed, we advise them not to panic because ICE is not after them.”
UFO advised employees to carry documents in case of random inspections, he said.
“For those without legal status, we advised them not to expose themselves out in the open projects. If they wanted to work for a living, they must find work that is not exposed to the public,” he said. saying he was speaking in a personal capacity.
Marquez said he reasoned most of those working without status don’t have a choice.
“Those who are out of status here [on Saipan] are over 50 already and they are staying over for a living to support their family back home. If they go home, according to them and that is true, they can no longer find a job due to their age. That is why they opted to stay even though they don't have legal documents.”
As for the official UFO stance, Marquez said, “For some of them, especially those who don't have permanent work, we advise them to go home while they are still on their feet.”
He said UFO has helped those that approached it intending to return home.
“Two weeks ago, we sent two elderly foreign workers who asked for our help. We were able to secure a plane ticket for them through assistance from the Philippine Consulate General in Guam,” Marquez said.
Rene Reyes, president of Marianas Advocates for Humanitarian Affairs Ltd. said legally employed people should not be very concerned, but to carry a working permit or other documents to prove their status.
“For our kababayans (countrymen) who are out of status, if they think that they are victims of illegal recruitment or their documents are in process, bring also with them documents that can prove it.”
Reyes also said, “For those who are illegally present here in the CNMI for a long time and doesn’t have a job to sustain their source of living, much better to voluntarily surrender to ICE and let them decide your case through legal remedy or exit voluntarily.”
Another foreign worker advocate, Malou Berueco, argued that even illegal workers have rights, and they should exhaust legal remedies before agreeing to be deported.
"If you're out of status, please know that you still have the right to remain silent and to have legal counsel. Most importantly, be prepared. We all know, in any country, once you don't have the authority to legally live and work, the chance to be deported is there."
Bureco regretted that only nonresident workers with children born before 2011 were afforded permanent status in the CNMI by former Delegate Gregorio “Kilili” C. Sablan’s H.R. 599. H.R. 560 would have afforded permanent status to longtime business owners and contract workers without children but was thumbed down by the U.S. Congress.
“I just wish that Congresswoman King-Hinds would create a bill that will give same status, CNMI residency, for those who weren't included in the law before just because they [did] not have children when the bill was passed, or [ whose children were] not in that age bracket yet.”
Bureco said those who fell under H.R. 560 were legally working at that time and were mostly professionals, health care providers, and skilled workers and to date are still in the NMI. mbj