WASHINGTON, D.C. — CNMI Delegate Kimberlyn King-Hinds has shared a draft proposal to revise the Commonwealth’s immigration transition framework and is asking Governor David M. Apatang and CNMI leaders to review it before she formally introduces the bill in Congress.
The draft measure titled the Northern Mariana Islands Labor Stabilization Act would extend CNMI-specific foreign labor authority by 10 years, with the option for additional extensions, and would adjust worker availability to better align with labor demand in the islands.
King-Hinds said the draft follows months of conversations with employers, workers, and community members, but she emphasized that input from the Governor and local leadership is critical before the bill is finalized.
“This is a working draft, not a finished product,” King-Hinds said, adding that she wants the Governor, local leaders and the broader community to review the proposal before anything is introduced.
In addition to extending labor authority, the draft also addresses what the release described as long-standing issues in the current transition framework, including enforcement challenges and statutory requirements that place burdens on employers. King-Hinds says the bill would strengthen enforcement tools, dedicate additional compliance resources, remove the “touch-back” requirement, and grant the Governor authority comparable to Guam’s role in supporting labor determinations.
The proposal would restore the Section 703(b) Covenant cover-over of immigration and naturalization fees, establish a mechanism to support immigration enforcement in the CNMI, remove restrictions affecting construction workers, expand eligibility following natural disasters, and create a process for certain individuals who fell out of status during or after the COVID-19 pandemic to return to lawful status within the Commonwealth.
King-Hinds said compromise will be unavoidable in the legislative process and that sustained local engagement will be essential to the effort to extend the CNMI’s foreign labor access beyond 2029.
King-Hinds also provided supporting materials including a section-by-section analysis and a comparison of current law versus proposed changes to assist with review and input.
