Immigrant Daily

GAO Report on Impact of U.S. Immigration Law on CNMI

The Director of International Affairs and Trade, Mr. David Gootnick, presented his testimony before the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife, Committee on Natural Resources, and House of Representatives on Potential Economic Impact of Applying U.S. Immigration Law to the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). The report concentrated on U.S. legislation’s potential impact on CNMI’s three crucial areas such as Labor Market, Tourism Sector, and Foreign Investment. In its concluding remarks the report highlighted the grim economic situation in CNMI and recommended federal agencies to implement such legislations that will minimize potential effects to the CNMI economy and maximize CNMI’s potential for economic and business growth. Further, it recommended both Departments of Homeland Security (DOS) and Labor (DOL) to develop strategies for obtaining critical data that are unavailable on the CNMI labor market and foreign investment and is essential to federal agencies’ ability to make appropriate and effective decisions in implementing the legislation and fulfilling their goals. Notably, the DHS has agreed with GAO’s recommendations in their written comments but the DOL had no comments.

For complete information on GAO testimony, please click: Testimony on the Economic Impact of Applying U.S. Immigration Law to the Northern Mariana Islands