WASHINGTON — Congresswoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds wrote to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Joseph B. Edlow on April 20 urging immediate action on stalled Employment Authorization Document renewals for CNMI Long-Term Residents, arguing that documentation delays are creating an avoidable barrier to typhoon recovery at a time when the workforce is critically needed.
The letter follows a March 30, 2026 correspondence King-Hinds sent Edlow on the same issue. In the follow-up, she said conditions have become even more urgent in the aftermath of Typhoon Sinlaku.
King-Hinds said many CNMI Long-Term Residents with pending or unresolved EAD renewals are hesitant to return to work despite being lawfully authorized to do so, fearing that working without a valid EAD card in hand could jeopardize their immigration standing or their ability to remain in the CNMI. Employers are also constrained, she said, because they must comply with federal employment verification requirements and cannot rely on underlying statutory authorization without valid documentation.
King-Hinds asked USCIS to take three specific actions: expedite adjudication of all pending CNMI Long-Term Resident EAD renewal applications, implement automatic extensions of employment authorization for individuals with timely filed renewal applications, and issue clear public guidance to workers and employers confirming the ability of CNMI Long-Term Residents to lawfully work while renewals are pending.
“These measures would provide much-needed clarity and stability, allowing affected individuals to participate fully in recovery efforts without fear of adverse immigration consequences,” King-Hinds wrote.
