<enum>I</enum><header>Northern Mariana Islands Immigration, Security, and Labor Act</header> <section id="H95E446646E994E31B144A5AA7C0251E7" section-type="section-one"><enum>101.</enum><header>Short title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title may be cited as the <quote><short-title>Northern Mariana Islands Immigration, Security, and Labor Act</short-title></quote>.</text></section> <section id="H7834E8B103B94C7CAB46A9CFE987EF32"><enum>102.</enum><header>Statement of congressional intent</header> <subsection id="H877DA65F51ED4F25B5EF32200044EFC7"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Immigration and growth</header><text>In recognition of the need to ensure uniform adherence to long-standing fundamental immigration policies of the United States, it is the intention of the Congress in enacting this title—</text> <paragraph id="H30E820C2249F46C900AED646475C39D2"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to ensure that effective border control procedures are implemented and observed, and that national security and homeland security issues are properly addressed, by extending the immigration laws (as defined in section 101(a)(17) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 (a)(17)), to apply to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (referred to in this title as the <quote>Commonwealth</quote>), with special provisions to allow for—</text> <subparagraph id="HE8F9A500031F4E6B9E673D4100F456B8"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the orderly phasing-out of the nonresident contract worker program of the Commonwealth; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H9F768E67D864424597640025C1F16051"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the orderly phasing-in of Federal responsibilities over immigration in the Commonwealth; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H1AD44A924D6749D7B8743184CE39CA90"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to minimize, to the greatest extent practicable, potential adverse economic and fiscal effects of phasing-out the Commonwealth’s nonresident contract worker program and to maximize the Commonwealth’s potential for future economic and business growth by—</text> <subparagraph id="HD4D9C33875A543CCAA5B612876D488BD"><enum>(A)</enum><text>encouraging diversification and growth of the economy of the Commonwealth in accordance with fundamental values underlying Federal immigration policy;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HCF3A0A0DA421400FA3DAC0B5BA35EE51"><enum>(B)</enum><text>recognizing local self-government, as provided for in the Covenant To Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union With the United States of America through consultation with the Governor of the Commonwealth;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H30AA9D9630E34061979F63EEB7C3FB3"><enum>(C)</enum><text>assisting the Commonwealth in achieving a progressively higher standard of living for citizens of the Commonwealth through the provision of technical and other assistance;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H3A53B53EF66B4C22A33B08045B00B769"><enum>(D)</enum><text>providing opportunities for individuals authorized to work in the United States, including citizens of the freely associated states; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H4B9A1FC8F60041F3BD8428BBBD2BAE1D"><enum>(E)</enum><text>providing a mechanism for the continued use of alien workers, to the extent those workers continue to be necessary to supplement the Commonwealth’s resident workforce, and to protect those workers from the potential for abuse and exploitation.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H2CE97AE3DBB94C64A079CB0088FBB703"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Avoiding adverse effects</header><text>In recognition of the Commonwealth’s unique economic circumstances, history, and geographical location, it is the intent of the Congress that the Commonwealth be given as much flexibility as possible in maintaining existing businesses and other revenue sources, and developing new economic opportunities, consistent with the mandates of this title. This title, and the amendments made by this title, should be implemented wherever possible to expand tourism and economic development in the Commonwealth, including aiding prospective tourists in gaining access to the Commonwealth’s memorials, beaches, parks, dive sites, and other points of interest.</text></subsection></section> <section id="HF33513BD88EE4A51B59BCE8B935E7800"><enum>103.</enum><header>Immigration reform for the commonwealth</header> <subsection id="H9EB156B55A4A48BE82BC1BCC2E388CB"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Amendment to joint resolution approving covenant establishing Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands</header><text>The Joint Resolution entitled <quote>A Joint Resolution to approve the <quote>Covenant To Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States of America</quote>, and for other purposes</quote>, approved March 24, 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/94/241">Public Law 94–241</external-xref>; 90 Stat. 263), is amended by adding at the end the following new section:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE8A7FE1533DB4DA4AF2E8F80EB8C98D3" style="OLC"> <section id="H20700723A6CF45A995C086A1265D393C"><enum>6.</enum><header>Immigration and transition</header> <subsection id="H470B49F3C3844E2A9B7BD54935693C38"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Application of the immigration and nationality Act and establishment of a transition program</header> <paragraph id="H144CF43181BB4CB5B1EEBACD3458077E"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), effective on the first day of the first full month commencing 1 year after the date of the enactment of the Northern Mariana Islands Immigration, Security, and Labor Act (hereafter referred to as the <quote>transition program effective date</quote>), the provisions of the <quote>immigration laws</quote> (as defined in section 101(a)(17) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1101">8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(17)</external-xref>)) shall apply to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (referred to in this section as the <quote>Commonwealth</quote>), except as otherwise provided in this section.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HB24D284660B64B3C98FF81AECCEECA5B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Transition period</header><text>There shall be a transition period beginning on the transition program effective date and ending on December 31, 2013, except as provided in subsections (b) and (d), during which the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of the Interior, shall establish, administer, and enforce a transition program to regulate immigration to the Commonwealth, as provided in this section (hereafter referred to as the <quote>transition program</quote>).</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HA4A1B91E71D449D7883E00E4B1937DF3"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Delay of commencement of transition period</header> <subparagraph id="HCB809A13BC9B4583B08F263BB8C4E341"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary of Homeland Security, in the Secretary’s sole discretion, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, and the Governor of the Commonwealth, may determine that the transition program effective date be delayed for a period not to exceed more than 180 days after such date.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H9FE0FC9C330E464CB6B97149B882FE88"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Congressional notification</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Homeland Security shall notify the Congress of a determination under subparagraph (A) not later than 30 days prior to the transition program effective date.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H91FCDBD858C344FFA6860834002FE434"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Congressional review</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A delay of the transition program effective date shall not take effect until 30 days after the date on which the notification under subparagraph (B) is made.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="HC60DE1C98F374C379C62B4DA8E5CF19"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Requirement for regulations</header><text>The transition program shall be implemented pursuant to regulations to be promulgated, as appropriate, by the head of each agency or department of the United States having responsibilities under the transition program.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H301D2A5FE2274BDF9577C698E8292DD0"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Interagency agreements</header><text>The Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of the Interior shall negotiate and implement agreements among their agencies to identify and assign their respective duties so as to ensure timely and proper implementation of the provisions of this section. The agreements should address, at a minimum, procedures to ensure that Commonwealth employers have access to adequate labor, and that tourists, students, retirees, and other visitors have access to the Commonwealth without unnecessary delay or impediment. The agreements may also allocate funding between the respective agencies tasked with various responsibilities under this section.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H17741110E4F24A9F8379B835ED8BEC15"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Certain education funding</header><text>In addition to fees charged pursuant to section 286(m) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1356">8 U.S.C. 1356(m)</external-xref>) to recover the full costs of providing adjudication services, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall charge an annual supplemental fee of $150 per nonimmigrant worker to each prospective employer who is issued a permit under subsection (d) of this section during the transition period. Such supplemental fee shall be paid into the Treasury of the Commonwealth government for the purpose of funding ongoing vocational educational curricula and program development by Commonwealth educational entities.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HF0A7F416FB2342FF9FADAB2C763576E9"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Asylum</header><text>Section 208 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1158">8 U.S.C. 1158</external-xref>) shall not apply during the transition period to persons physically present in the Commonwealth or arriving in the Commonwealth (whether or not at a designated port of arrival), including persons brought to the Commonwealth after having been interdicted in international or United States waters.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H66C3D2917F8149D2AEFD27C76CABD2AB"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Numerical limitations for nonimmigrant workers</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An alien, if otherwise qualified, may seek admission to Guam or to the Commonwealth during the transition program as a nonimmigrant worker under section 101(a)(15)(H) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1101">8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(H)</external-xref>) without counting against the numerical limitations set forth in section 214(g) of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1184">8 U.S.C. 1184(g)</external-xref>). This subsection does not apply to any employment to be performed outside of Guam or the Commonwealth. Not later than 3 years following the transition program effective date, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall issue a report to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives projecting the number of asylum claims the Secretary anticipates following the termination of the transition period, the efforts the Secretary has made to ensure appropriate interdiction efforts, provide for appropriate treatment of asylum seekers, and prepare to accept and adjudicate asylum claims in the Commonwealth.</text></subsection> <subsection id="H8E21715C971F416DB61987BF61B413F"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Nonimmigrant investor visas</header> <paragraph id="HD6BB85CACAD0401794258DF95D31E5F9"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Notwithstanding the treaty requirements in section 101(a)(15)(E) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1101">8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(E)</external-xref>), during the transition period, the Secretary of Homeland Security may, upon the application of an alien, classify an alien as a CNMI-only nonimmigrant under section 101(a)(15)(E)(ii) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1101">8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(E)(ii)</external-xref>) if the alien—</text> <subparagraph id="H05D160A5A5754FD29C254493F0972013"><enum>(A)</enum><text>has been admitted to the Commonwealth in long-term investor status under the immigration laws of the Commonwealth before the transition program effective date;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HAF064462BAFE446C9D1639C1C1656B01"><enum>(B)</enum><text>has continuously maintained residence in the Commonwealth under long-term investor status;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H04D1596662634BAC9B53E46CBFFE9B18"><enum>(C)</enum><text>is otherwise admissible; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H5A792E83EB6445D7BE90872300AD173D"><enum>(D)</enum><text>maintains the investment or investments that formed the basis for such long-term investor status.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="HB181B2BAE58D45E90047C17C6861EFEB"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Requirement for regulations</header><text>Not later than 60 days before the transition program effective date, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall publish regulations in the Federal Register to implement this subsection.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="HB7D788FADB354C6C9C3093E76CFA016B"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Special provision to ensure adequate employment; commonwealth only transitional workers</header><text>An alien who is seeking to enter the Commonwealth as a nonimmigrant worker may be admitted to perform work during the transition period subject to the following requirements:</text> <paragraph id="H0C747F482EA045D0846582D887F09641"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Such an alien shall be treated as a nonimmigrant described in section 101(a)(15) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1101">8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)</external-xref>), including the ability to apply, if otherwise eligible, for a change of nonimmigrant classification under section 248 of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1258">8 U.S.C. 1258</external-xref>) or adjustment of status under this section and section 245 of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1255">8 U.S.C. 1255</external-xref>).</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H5B61F13E179548899BD5505A7722803"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish, administer, and enforce a system for allocating and determining the number, terms, and conditions of permits to be issued to prospective employers for each such nonimmigrant worker described in this subsection who would not otherwise be eligible for admission under the Immigration and Nationality Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1101">8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.</external-xref>). In adopting and enforcing this system, the Secretary shall also consider, in good faith and not later than 30 days after receipt by the Secretary, any comments and advice submitted by the Governor of the Commonwealth. This system shall provide for a reduction in the allocation of permits for such workers on an annual basis, to zero, during a period not to extend beyond December 31, 2013, unless extended pursuant to paragraph 5 of this subsection, and shall take into account the number of petitions granted under subsection (i). In no event shall a permit be valid beyond the expiration of the transition period. This system may be based on any reasonable method and criteria determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security to promote the maximum use of, and to prevent adverse effects on wages and working conditions of, workers authorized to be employed in the United States, including lawfully admissible freely associated state citizen labor. No alien shall be granted nonimmigrant classification or a visa under this subsection unless the permit requirements established under this paragraph have been met. </text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HD922F3FE731B4694AC3651D18C91A0FC"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The Secretary of Homeland Security shall set the conditions for admission of such an alien under the transition program, and the Secretary of State shall authorize the issuance of nonimmigrant visas for such an alien. Such a visa shall not be valid for admission to the United States, as defined in section 101(a)(38) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1101">8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(38)</external-xref>), except admission to the Commonwealth. An alien admitted to the Commonwealth on the basis of such a visa shall be permitted to engage in employment only as authorized pursuant to the transition program.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H3CB0CADBDA124B2FB4AC00709D42672"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Such an alien shall be permitted to transfer between employers in the Commonwealth during the period of such alien’s authorized stay therein, without permission of the employee’s current or prior employer, within the alien’s occupational category or another occupational category the Secretary of Homeland Security has found requires alien workers to supplement the resident workforce.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H8A48B901E99E4E05B79F9900C9BB8529"><enum>(5)</enum> <subparagraph id="HA08685BE510A4FABB7FDD64F11CB0AC" display-inline="yes-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Not later than 180 days prior to the expiration of the transition period, or any extension thereof, the Secretary of Labor, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Governor of the Commonwealth, shall ascertain the current and anticipated labor needs of the Commonwealth and determine whether an extension of up to 5 years of the provisions of this subsection is necessary to ensure an adequate number of workers will be available for legitimate businesses in the Commonwealth. For the purpose of this subparagraph, a business shall not be considered legitimate if it engages directly or indirectly in prostitution, trafficking in minors, or any other activity that is illegal under Federal or local law. The determinations of whether a business is legitimate and to what extent, if any, it may require alien workers to supplement the resident workforce, shall be made by the Secretary of Homeland Security, in the Secretary’s sole discretion.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H0BD69BDCBBF14D55BCC8F8BDDED93803" commented="no" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>If the Secretary of Labor determines that such an extension is necessary to ensure an adequate number of workers for legitimate businesses in the Commonwealth, the Secretary of Labor may, through notice published in the Federal Register, provide for an additional extension period of up to 5 years.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HB78839FE163D4E338E359B743C17D7B1" commented="no" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>In making the determination of whether alien workers are necessary to ensure an adequate number of workers for legitimate businesses in the Commonwealth, and if so, the number of such workers that are necessary, the Secretary of Labor may consider, among other relevant factors—</text> <clause id="HEF649250E99E43B99775E43121678F2E" commented="no"><enum>(i)</enum><text>government, industry, or independent workforce studies reporting on the need, or lack thereof, for alien workers in the Commonwealth’s businesses;</text></clause> <clause id="H7B17653DF48741AFA9735DCF263BFD3D" commented="no"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the unemployment rate of United States citizen workers residing in the Commonwealth;</text></clause> <clause id="H6AB1B5968D8843989527728D7261C16E" commented="no"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the unemployment rate of aliens in the Commonwealth who have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence;</text></clause> <clause id="H22B7F8804B634E269DB63480E5919CAE" commented="no"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the number of unemployed alien workers in the Commonwealth;</text></clause> <clause id="HE5226345D80A47828B10724DA5B8552" commented="no"><enum>(v)</enum><text>any good faith efforts to locate, educate, train, or otherwise prepare United States citizen residents, lawful permanent residents, and unemployed alien workers already within the Commonwealth, to assume those jobs;</text></clause> <clause id="H7A3CDD7F39FD4027B97D5DA19B24ED83" commented="no"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>any available evidence tending to show that United States citizen residents, lawful permanent residents, and unemployed alien workers already in the Commonwealth are not willing to accept jobs of the type offered;</text></clause> <clause id="H504E8D70A5E34F0794828C4129BCD02D" commented="no"><enum>(vii)</enum><text>the extent to which admittance of alien workers will affect the compensation, benefits, and living standards of existing workers within those industries and other industries authorized to employ alien workers; and</text></clause> <clause id="HDC48C180FE3D475692A968FB33001449" commented="no"><enum>(viii)</enum><text>the prior use, if any, of alien workers to fill those industry jobs, and whether the industry requires alien workers to fill those jobs.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="HFD5312B2154F4283AFEC77115DD50054"><enum>(6)</enum><text>The Secretary of Homeland Security may authorize the admission of a spouse or minor child accompanying or following to join a worker admitted pursuant to this subsection.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H098A7B308A6944F7A5935C2200A6151E"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Persons lawfully admitted under the Commonwealth immigration law</header> <paragraph id="H65178FFF2B364425AFC363ED2448C2AB"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Prohibition on removal</header> <subparagraph id="HC52787B1AAB04856B3658E08ECECE9CB"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to subparagraph (B), no alien who is lawfully present in the Commonwealth pursuant to the immigration laws of the Commonwealth on the transition program effective date shall be removed from the United States on the grounds that such alien's presence in the Commonwealth is in violation of section 212(a)(6)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1182">8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(6)(A)</external-xref>), until the earlier of the date—</text> <clause id="HC40CE10D894449B39D4B7B62A61B6BFA"><enum>(i)</enum><text>of the completion of the period of the alien's admission under the immigration laws of the Commonwealth; or</text></clause> <clause id="HE1E06063027C45EA86EC7309D6467BEE"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>that is 2 years after the transition program effective date.</text></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HF9BD2A1AA8714F60A8D58309C740351"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Limitations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prevent or limit the removal under subparagraph 212(a)(6)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1182">8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(6)(A)</external-xref>) of such an alien at any time, if the alien entered the Commonwealth after the date of the enactment of the Northern Mariana Islands Immigration, Security, and Labor Act, and the Secretary of Homeland Security has determined that the Government of the Commonwealth has violated section 103(i) of the Northern Mariana Islands Immigration, Security, and Labor Act.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="HE4B13503587B4E450030F3FE72EBC4C9"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Employment authorization</header><text>An alien who is lawfully present and authorized to be employed in the Commonwealth pursuant to the immigration laws of the Commonwealth on the transition program effective date shall be considered authorized by the Secretary of Homeland Security to be employed in the Commonwealth until the earlier of the date—</text> <subparagraph id="HDCACC653797444D38253CA96C939F4EF"><enum>(A)</enum><text>of expiration of the alien's employment authorization under the immigration laws of the Commonwealth; or</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H2FD6EA387F3A4EF7A44250C758D598DE"><enum>(B)</enum><text>that is 2 years after the transition program effective date.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="HD09FB8C07A094EC687F1E97D19874560"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Registration</header><text>The Secretary of Homeland Security may require any alien present in the Commonwealth on or after the transition period effective date to register with the Secretary in such a manner, and according to such schedule, as he may in his discretion require. Paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection shall not apply to any alien who fails to comply with such registration requirement. Notwithstanding any other law, the Government of the Commonwealth shall provide to the Secretary all Commonwealth immigration records or other information that the Secretary deems necessary to assist the implementation of this paragraph or other provisions of the Northern Mariana Islands Immigration, Security, and Labor Act. Nothing in this paragraph shall modify or limit section 262 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1302">8 U.S.C. 1302</external-xref>) or other provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act relating to the registration of aliens.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H0479B6BE742749C084AE39B625B6C732"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Removable aliens</header><text>Except as specifically provided in paragraph (1)(A) of this subsection, nothing in this subsection shall prohibit or limit the removal of any alien who is removable under the Immigration and Nationality Act.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HDC08D2695941458893001518249DC797"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Prior orders of removal</header><text>The Secretary of Homeland Security may execute any administratively final order of exclusion, deportation or removal issued under authority of the immigration laws of the United States before, on, or after the transition period effective date, or under authority of the immigration laws of the Commonwealth before the transition period effective date, upon any subject of such order found in the Commonwealth on or after the transition period effective date, regardless whether the alien has previously been removed from the United States or the Commonwealth pursuant to such order.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="HF26A252694D64C5E9243DDF161CEA95F"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Effect on other laws</header><text>The provisions of this section and of the immigration laws, as defined in section 101(a)(17) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1101">8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(17)</external-xref>), shall, on the transition program effective date, supersede and replace all laws, provisions, or programs of the Commonwealth relating to the admission of aliens and the removal of aliens from the Commonwealth.</text></subsection> <subsection id="H68F2530DB37C4B7FB506F3E0AA5FAD04"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Accrual of time for purposes of Section 212(a)(9)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act</header><text>No time that an alien is present in the Commonwealth in violation of the immigration laws of the Commonwealth shall be counted for purposes of inadmissibility under section 212(a)(9)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1182">8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(9)(B)</external-xref>).</text></subsection> <subsection id="H27DFCB6F74B041469C99D89CAC654B21" commented="no"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Report on nonresident guestworker population</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Governor of the Commonwealth, shall report to the Congress not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of the Northern Mariana Islands Immigration, Security, and Labor Act. The report shall include—</text> <paragraph id="H4B955EB6AD4445F5B83537483FECE89F" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the number of aliens residing in the Commonwealth; </text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H8D22BA4EBA2847DE96D97F316127FDE2" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text>a description of the legal status (under Federal law) of such aliens;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H3E9B9D7DF79F4202A375F3B0865E95BF" commented="no"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the number of years each alien has been residing in the Commonwealth;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H25B50560D0B748F7990200DA93BE8B2" commented="no"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the current and future requirements of the Commonwealth economy for an alien workforce; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HF6AACEAAC757471C90C1E5FA8950B205" commented="no"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">such recommendations to the Congress, as the Secretary may deem appropriate, related to whether or not the Congress should consider permitting lawfully admitted guest workers lawfully residing in the Commonwealth on such enactment date to apply for long-term status under the immigration and nationality laws of the United States.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection> <subsection id="H746EFB21A0E545EFB1840062648D8C78"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Waiver of requirements for nonimmigrant visitors</header><text>The Immigration and Nationality Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1101">8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="H913F1E6DB086482D91DD72DFE446562"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline"> in section 214(a)(1) (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1184">8 U.S.C. 1184(a)(1)</external-xref>)—</text> <subparagraph id="H1C70032138704F0F88001DCD82435040"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking “Guam” each place such term appears and inserting “Guam or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands”; and </text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H7F105709266C40ED9B40BEE0AA58EAF"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking “fifteen” and inserting “45”;</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H66C60C4CAC0E475F8153443B44FEB72C"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in section 212(a)(7)(B) (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1182">8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(7)(B)</external-xref>), by amending clause (iii) to read as follows:</text> <quoted-block id="HD0B347F65A204268AD00D8A800E384D" style="OLC"> <clause id="HBF14866DD4A14782ABBFEC784E14CA76"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Guam and Northern Mariana Islands visa waiver</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For provision authorizing waiver of clause (i) in the case of visitors to Guam or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, see subsection (l).</text></clause><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph> <paragraph id="HA6660A9863E4451B9E4DB0005DA4758F"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by amending section 212(l) (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1182">8 U.S.C. 1182(l)</external-xref>) to read as follows:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" id="HAC5C283EF3C74B3D8E51E11D2EDA8800" display-inline="no-display-inline"> <subsection id="H08B7C8EB01134ED19CCBC24E48B4DBF5"><enum>(l)</enum><header>Guam and Northern Mariana Islands visa waiver program</header> <paragraph id="H8E76F780658145C58F7FE3DF62B6F169"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The requirement of subsection (a)(7)(B)(i) may be waived by the Secretary of Homeland Security, in the case of an alien applying for admission as a nonimmigrant visitor for business or pleasure and solely for entry into and stay in Guam or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands for a period not to exceed 45 days, if the Secretary of Homeland Security, after consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of State, the Governor of Guam and the Governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, determines that—</text> <subparagraph id="HE78DAE93F9C742989B3C4103FB00C967"><enum>(A)</enum><text>an adequate arrival and departure control system has been developed in Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H24088790EE7742D18B5DBED576BC9E6D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>such a waiver does not represent a threat to the welfare, safety, or security of the United States or its territories and commonwealths.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H27D97C3A6BC446C883CD633C00AADDDD"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Alien waiver of rights</header><text>An alien may not be provided a waiver under this subsection unless the alien has waived any right—</text> <subparagraph id="H285A35C56A3C4D2EADE564A42982B7B3"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to review or appeal under this Act an immigration officer’s determination as to the admissibility of the alien at the port of entry into Guam or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; or</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H3F1C06D154FA4AB3B08FF7313BCB3484"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to contest, other than on the basis of an application for withholding of removal under section 241(b)(3) of this Act or under the Convention Against Torture, or an application for asylum if permitted under section 208, any action for removal of the alien.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="HCF2F31DA84D54671BCE7D323C4CE8CBB"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Regulations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline"> All necessary regulations to implement this subsection shall be promulgated by the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of State, on or before the 180th day after the date of the enactment of the Northern Mariana Islands Immigration, Security, and Labor Act. The promulgation of such regulations shall be considered a foreign affairs function for purposes of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/553">section 553(a)</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code. At a minimum, such regulations should include, but not necessarily be limited to—</text> <subparagraph id="HE95B4E475790489A8965956984008E7D"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a listing of all countries whose nationals may obtain the waiver also provided by this subsection, except that such regulations shall provide for a listing of any country from which the Commonwealth has received a significant economic benefit from the number of visitors for pleasure within the one-year period preceding the date of the enactment of the Northern Mariana Islands Immigration, Security, and Labor Act, unless the Secretary of Homeland Security determines that such country’s inclusion on such list would represent a threat to the welfare, safety, or security of the United States or its territories; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H56CD3C8463D34FF583303699E1D98CD"><enum>(B)</enum><text>any bonding requirements for nationals of some or all of those countries who may present an increased risk of overstays or other potential problems, if different from such requirements otherwise provided by law for nonimmigrant visitors.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="HB9476BCC756446498EFEE8DB60A11F83"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Factors</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In determining whether to grant or continue providing the waiver under this subsection to nationals of any country, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of State, shall consider all factors that the Secretary deems relevant, including electronic travel authorizations, procedures for reporting lost and stolen passports, repatriation of aliens, rates of refusal for nonimmigrant visitor visas, overstays, exit systems, and information exchange.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H222332048A024297B9C904E945085198"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Suspension</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Homeland Security shall monitor the admission of nonimmigrant visitors to Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands under this subsection. If the Secretary determines that such admissions have resulted in an unacceptable number of visitors from a country remaining unlawfully in Guam or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, unlawfully obtaining entry to other parts of the United States, or seeking withholding of removal or asylum, or that visitors from a country pose a risk to law enforcement or security interests of Guam or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands or of the United States (including the interest in the enforcement of the immigration laws of the United States), the Secretary shall suspend the admission of nationals of such country under this subsection. The Secretary of Homeland Security may in the Secretary’s discretion suspend the Guam and Northern Mariana Islands visa waiver program at any time, on a country-by-country basis, for other good cause.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HABCC52775B184500893838169BE1B6CC"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Addition of countries</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Governor of Guam and the Governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands may request the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Homeland Security to add a particular country to the list of countries whose nationals may obtain the waiver provided by this subsection, and the Secretary of Homeland Security may grant such request after consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of State, and may promulgate regulations with respect to the inclusion of that country and any special requirements the Secretary of Homeland Security, in the Secretary’s sole discretion, may impose prior to allowing nationals of that country to obtain the waiver provided by this subsection.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph> </subsection> <subsection id="HD210D96D4EBC4CAE9BE76C7EFC00C3D7"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Special nonimmigrant categories for Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Governor of Guam and the Governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (referred to in this subsection as <quote>CNMI</quote>) may request that the Secretary of Homeland Security study the feasibility of creating additional Guam or CNMI-only nonimmigrant visas to the extent that existing nonimmigrant visa categories under the Immigration and Nationality Act do not provide for the type of visitor, the duration of allowable visit, or other circumstance. The Secretary of Homeland Security may review such a request, and, after consultation with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Interior, shall issue a report to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives with respect to the feasibility of creating those additional Guam or CNMI-only visa categories. Consideration of such additional Guam or CNMI-only visa categories may include, but are not limited to, special nonimmigrant statuses for investors, students, and retirees, but shall not include nonimmigrant status for the purpose of employment in Guam or the CNMI.</text></subsection> <subsection id="H148977BD761948A9AB622086291F0069"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Inspection of persons arriving from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana islands; Guam and Northern Mariana Islands-only visas not valid for entry into other parts of the United States</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 212(d)(7) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1182">8 U.S.C. 1182(d)(7)</external-xref>) is amended by inserting <quote>the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands,</quote> after <quote>Guam,</quote>.</text></subsection> <subsection id="HCA425926385445128B7C30B0C800322"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Technical assistance program</header> <paragraph id="H9BB7F640AA6042D1A38CFFF5E7253EC"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the Governor of the Commonwealth, the Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of Commerce, and as provided in the Interagency Agreements required to be negotiated under section 6(a)(4) of the Joint Resolution entitled <quote>A Joint Resolution to approve the <quote>Covenant To Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States of America</quote>, and for other purposes</quote>, approved March 24, 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/94/241">Public Law 94–241</external-xref>), as added by subsection (a), shall provide—</text> <subparagraph id="HD5990D6DFBCB4D55B2E1849F9D89435"><enum>(A)</enum><text>technical assistance and other support to the Commonwealth to identify opportunities for, and encourage diversification and growth of, the economy of the Commonwealth; </text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H35581A2B08544DA2848BBF40D340F472"><enum>(B)</enum><text>technical assistance, including assistance in recruiting, training, and hiring of workers, to assist employers in the Commonwealth in securing employees first from among United States citizens and nationals resident in the Commonwealth and if an adequate number of such workers are not available, from among legal permanent residents, including lawfully admissible citizens of the freely associated states; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HC0F1D3278E474CC59965C80DC9388B"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">technical assistance, including assistance to identify types of jobs needed, identify skills needed to fulfill such jobs, and assistance to Commonwealth educational entities to develop curricula for such job skills to include training teachers and students for such skills.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H332725A941B04A479783E259D767136B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Consultation</header><text>In providing such technical assistance under paragraph (1), the Secretaries shall—</text> <subparagraph id="H1EEC7CEE31A34A54A5CBA4D3BA087C22"><enum>(A)</enum><text>consult with the Government of the Commonwealth, local businesses, regional banks, educational institutions, and other experts in the economy of the Commonwealth; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H6107DA3F3C0747B0004330CCDA4F500"><enum>(B)</enum><text>assist in the development and implementation of a process to identify opportunities for and encourage diversification and growth of the economy of the Commonwealth and to identify and encourage opportunities to meet the labor needs of the Commonwealth.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="HFFAC2D81161B4E169FFC7C20157F95DF"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Cost-sharing</header><text>For the provision of technical assistance or support under this paragraph (other than that required to pay the salaries and expenses of Federal personnel), the Secretary of the Interior shall require a non-Federal matching contribution of 10 percent.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H97B5EF9C004F4FD49E2D47249EE65694"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Operations</header> <paragraph id="H23BD141D571A42ECA2F8F69E3F8260C3"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">At any time on and after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Attorney General, Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Secretary of Labor may establish and maintain offices and other operations in the Commonwealth for the purpose of carrying out duties under—</text> <subparagraph id="H55F9AD03C13B43D58FE93902387C16EB"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Immigration and Nationality Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1101">8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.</external-xref>); and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HCFE2B9F66FFF4A669752C96FFD968394"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the transition program established under section 6 of the Joint Resolution entitled <quote>A Joint Resolution to approve the <quote>Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States of America</quote>, and for other purposes</quote>, approved March 24, 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/94/241">Public Law 94–241</external-xref>), as added by subsection (a) of this section.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H9E2C17FE2EBE4A93A4105F6EEF90AF3C"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Personnel</header><text>To the maximum extent practicable and consistent with the satisfactory performance of assigned duties under applicable law, the Attorney General, Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Secretary of Labor shall recruit and hire personnel from among qualified United States citizens and national applicants residing in the Commonwealth to serve as staff in carrying out operations described in paragraph (1).</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="HE75937D1B285489FA60826577D526F90"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Conforming amendments to <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/94/241">Public Law 94–241</external-xref></header> <paragraph id="HF0BEE4BA10BB44FB93AA5F0AFC71C9F"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Amendments</header><text>Public Law 94–241 is amended as follows:</text> <subparagraph id="H6488C44E71464BBFAD4F5DDF294C7FDC" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text>In section 503 of the covenant set forth in section 1, by striking subsection (a) and redesignating subsections (b) and (c) as subsections (a) and (b), respectively.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HE38F2DB14AE04C46A2275D900000682D"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">By striking section 506 of the covenant set forth in section 1.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H3B188BA28C664C339CB8EAA4F180C72D"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In section 703(b) of the covenant set forth in section 1, by striking <quote>quarantine, passport, immigration and naturalization</quote> and inserting <quote>quarantine and passport</quote>.</text></subparagraph> </paragraph> <paragraph id="H61D5E24B30D1480880835FC9B1B577F8"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Effective date</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The amendments made by paragraph (1) shall take effect on the transition program effective date described in section 6 of <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/94/241">Public Law 94–241</external-xref> (as added by subsection (a)).</text></paragraph> </subsection> <subsection id="H598549AF5652448FBB93641F800083B5"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Reports to Congress</header> <paragraph id="HAE60A1771AD045989EFEF15C00467E56"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than March 1 of the first year that is at least 2 full years after the date of the enactment of this title, and annually thereafter, the President shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives a report that evaluates the overall effect of the transition program established under section 6 of the Joint Resolution entitled <quote>A Joint Resolution to approve the <quote>Covenant To Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States of America</quote>, and for other purposes</quote>, approved March 24, 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/94/241">Public Law 94–241</external-xref>), as added by subsection (a) of this section, and the Immigration and Nationality Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1101">8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.</external-xref>) on the Commonwealth.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HD757E68252BA4A129B60AD3CC7FFF0C1"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Contents</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In addition to other topics otherwise required to be included under this title or the amendments made by this title, each report submitted under paragraph (1) shall include a description of the efforts that have been undertaken during the period covered by the report to diversify and strengthen the local economy of the Commonwealth, including efforts to promote the Commonwealth as a tourist destination. The report by the President shall include an estimate for the numbers of nonimmigrant workers described under section 101(a)(15)(H) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1101">8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(H)</external-xref>) necessary to avoid adverse economic effects in Guam and the Commonwealth.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HF1A6278CF0704C0AB4B347F0DFD0200"><enum>(3)</enum><header>GAO report</header><text>The Government Accountability Office shall submit a report to the Congress not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this title, to include, at a minimum, the following items:</text> <subparagraph id="H327FD6B9A29F445600AB6E8646A1D9AA"><enum>(A)</enum><text>An assessment of the implementation of this title and the amendments made by this title, including an assessment of the performance of Federal agencies and the Government of the Commonwealth in meeting congressional intent.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HB2B90078F2D44C4680C4BE38341C59D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>An assessment of the short-term and long-term impacts of implementation of this title and the amendments made by this title on the economy of the Commonwealth, including its ability to obtain workers to supplement its resident workforce and to maintain access to its tourists and customers, and any effect on compliance with United States treaty obligations mandating non-refoulement for refugees.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H05A0968DDBE44E43A188293B5953D77F"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An assessment of the economic benefit of the investors <quote>grandfathered</quote> under subsection (c) of section 6 of the Joint Resolution entitled <quote>A Joint Resolution to approve the <quote>Covenant To Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States of America</quote>, and for other purposes</quote>, approved March 24, 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/94/241">Public Law 94–241</external-xref>), as added by subsection (a) of this section, and the Commonwealth’s ability to attract new investors after the date of the enactment of this title.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H434B6EAC85F247C287F2A1B1CC03AE35"><enum>(D)</enum><text>An assessment of the number of illegal aliens in the Commonwealth, including any Federal and Commonwealth efforts to locate and repatriate them.</text></subparagraph> </paragraph> <paragraph id="HEAC0E9F3D9834F8095807571D0EC9F82"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Reports by the local government</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Governor of the Commonwealth may submit an annual report to the President on the implementation of this title, and the amendments made by this title, with recommendations for future changes. The President shall forward the Governor’s report to the Congress with any Administration comment after an appropriate period of time for internal review, provided that nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to require the President to provide any legislative recommendation to the Congress.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H786D4EE6BE014E9DB49E0044FDCE3F02"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Report on Federal personnel and resource requirements</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, after consulting with the Secretary of the Interior and other departments and agencies as may be deemed necessary, shall submit a report to the Committee on Natural Resources, the Committee on Homeland Security, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives, and to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate, on the current and planned levels of Transportation Security Administration, United States Customs and Border Protection, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, and United States Coast Guard personnel and resources necessary for fulfilling mission requirements on Guam and the Commonwealth in a manner comparable to the level provided at other similar ports of entry in the United States. In fulfilling this reporting requirement, the Secretary shall consider and anticipate the increased requirements due to the proposed realignment of military forces on Guam and in the Commonwealth and growth in the tourism sector.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H6BF58A96E73D4D219651F14D430923EF"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Required actions prior to transition program effective date</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">During the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on the transition program effective date described in section 6 of <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/94/241">Public Law 94–241</external-xref> (as added by subsection (a)), the Government of the Commonwealth shall—</text> <paragraph id="H336795C62F844BC48B00A27D6B261800"><enum>(1)</enum><text>not permit an increase in the total number of alien workers who are present in the Commonwealth as of the date of the enactment of this Act; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H053F4782F3C44082A9E139E435FACA71"><enum>(2)</enum><text>administer its nonrefoulement protection program—</text> <subparagraph id="H6B16937F46E64785A31CF2B55815E700"><enum>(A)</enum><text>according to the terms and procedures set forth in the Memorandum of Agreement entered into between the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the United States Department of Interior, Office of Insular Affairs, executed on September 12, 2003 (which terms and procedures, including but not limited to funding by the Secretary of the Interior and performance by the Secretary of Homeland Security of the duties of <quote>Protection Consultant</quote> to the Commonwealth, shall have effect on and after the date of the enactment of this Act), as well as CNMI <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/13/61">Public Law 13–61</external-xref> and the Immigration Regulations Establishing a Procedural Mechanism for Persons Requesting Protection from Refoulement; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HA3BF36B897E74ED48E3852A3157D70B"><enum>(B)</enum><text>so as not to remove or otherwise effect the involuntary return of any alien whom the Protection Consultant has determined to be eligible for protection from persecution or torture.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H2EF0216F78704B97BE3626B0D399D7B0"><enum>(j)</enum><header>Conforming amendments to the Immigration and Nationality Act</header><text>The Immigration and Nationality Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1101">8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="H52E47679618147EC84D513E4B4771DE"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in section 101(a)(15)(D)(ii), by inserting <quote>or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands</quote> after <quote>Guam</quote> each time such term appears;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HEB323ACA719544749C4D8D909CBE72BF"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in section 101(a)(36), by striking <quote>and the Virgin Islands of the United States</quote> and inserting <quote>the Virgin Islands of the United States, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands</quote>;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HDDBA25C5CCD24B0993C9B2CB4F9000EE"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in section 101(a)(38), by striking <quote>and the Virgin Islands of the United States</quote> and inserting <quote>the Virgin Islands of the United States, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands</quote>;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HE0AB29285C2043FFBE00F143FDFAF710"><enum>(4)</enum><text>in section 208, by adding at the end the following: </text> <quoted-block style="OLC" id="H639FFB0C7BB748F59125DC00D8D12B75" display-inline="no-display-inline"> <subsection id="HABCD069B5B1044D18EB71640BC016DF6"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands</header><text>The provisions of this section and section 209(b) of this Act shall apply to persons physically present in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands or arriving in the Commonwealth (whether or not at a designated port of arrival and including persons who are brought to the Commonwealth after having been interdicted in international or United States waters) only on or after January 1, 2014.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph> <paragraph id="HA4FF942951454EB4834510DDFC67894F"><enum>(5)</enum><text>in section 235(b)(1), by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" id="HF1FA5199D73D4251834095003113265F" display-inline="no-display-inline"> <subparagraph id="HF50260FD2BCD48209BF91F0658E55D46"><enum>(G)</enum><header>Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands</header><text>Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to authorize or require any person described in section 208(e) of this Act to be permitted to apply for asylum under section 208 of this Act at any time before January 1, 2014.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H0A0A038ACAF345F4BC80AF3BA1F67B4D" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(k)</enum><header>Availability of other nonimmigrant professionals</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The requirements of section 212(m)(6)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1182">8 U.S.C. 1182(m)(6)(B)</external-xref>) shall not apply to a facility in Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or the Virgin Islands.</text></subsection></section> <section id="H9759CCFFDFB048F5B96846EC6018A396"><enum>104.</enum><header>Further amendments to <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/94/241">Public Law 94–241</external-xref></header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Public Law 94-241, as amended, is further amended in section 4(c)(3) by striking the colon after <quote>Marshall Islands</quote> and inserting the following: <quote>, except that $200,000 in fiscal year 2009 and $225,000 annually for fiscal years 2010 through 2018 are hereby rescinded; Provided, That the amount rescinded shall be increased by the same percentage as that of the annual salary and benefit adjustments for Members of Congress</quote>.</text></section> <section id="HC2E6BB768BE8496FAFB2D69CFFD1037F"><enum>105.</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this title.</text></section> <section id="H17E1000CA22A424A9843E0AF76B3C48B"><enum>106.</enum><header>Effective date</header> <subsection id="HBED30FF7FBB54569B451FBF9CFC47D46"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Except as specifically provided in this section or otherwise in this Act, this title and the amendments made by this title shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this title.</text></subsection> <subsection id="H87E56A5F07AA4AB1B2FA3EC3D2C9B7F5"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Amendments to the Immigration and Nationality Act</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The amendments to the Immigration and Nationality Act made by this Act, and other provisions of this Act applying the immigration laws (as defined in section 101(a)(17) of Immigration and Nationality Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1101">8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(17)</external-xref>)) to the Commonwealth, shall take effect on the transition program effective date described in section 6 of <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/94/241">Public Law 94–241</external-xref> (as added by section 103(a) of this Act), unless specifically provided otherwise in this Act.</text></subsection> <subsection id="HAF1D8E49B5ED49F699AB6E81ACBC84E3"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Construction</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Nothing in this Act or the amendments made by this Act shall be construed to make any residence or presence in the Commonwealth before the transition program effective date described in section 6 of <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/94/241">Public Law 94–241</external-xref> (as added by section 103(a) of this Act) residence or presence in the United States, except that, for the purpose only of determining whether an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence (as defined in section 101(a)(20) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1101">8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(20)</external-xref>)) has abandoned or lost such status by reason of absence from the United States, such alien’s presence in the Commonwealth before, on, or after the date of the enactment of this Act shall be considered to be presence in the United States.</text></subsection></section>

110 HR 3079 EH: Northern Mariana Islands Delegate Act U.S. House of Representatives 0 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

<enum>I</enum><header>Northern Mariana Islands Immigration, Security, and Labor Act</header> <section id="H95E446646E994E31B144A5AA7C0251E7" section-type="section-one"><enum>101.</enum><header>Short title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title may be cited as the <quote><short-title>Northern Mariana Islands Immigration, Security, and Labor Act</short-title></quote>.</text></section> <section id="H7834E8B103B94C7CAB46A9CFE987EF32"><enum>102.</enum><header>Statement of congressional intent</header> <subsection id="H877DA65F51ED4F25B5EF32200044EFC7"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Immigration and growth</header><text>In recognition of the need to ensure uniform adherence to long-standing fundamental immigration policies of the United States, it is the intention of the Congress in enacting this title—</text> <paragraph id="H30E820C2249F46C900AED646475C39D2"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to ensure that effective border control procedures are implemented and observed, and that national security and homeland security issues are properly addressed, by extending the immigration laws (as defined in section 101(a)(17) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 (a)(17)), to apply to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (referred to in this title as the <quote>Commonwealth</quote>), with special provisions to allow for—</text> <subparagraph id="HE8F9A500031F4E6B9E673D4100F456B8"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the orderly phasing-out of the nonresident contract worker program of the Commonwealth; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H9F768E67D864424597640025C1F16051"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the orderly phasing-in of Federal responsibilities over immigration in the Commonwealth; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H1AD44A924D6749D7B8743184CE39CA90"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to minimize, to the greatest extent practicable, potential adverse economic and fiscal effects of phasing-out the Commonwealth’s nonresident contract worker program and to maximize the Commonwealth’s potential for future economic and business growth by—</text> <subparagraph id="HD4D9C33875A543CCAA5B612876D488BD"><enum>(A)</enum><text>encouraging diversification and growth of the economy of the Commonwealth in accordance with fundamental values underlying Federal immigration policy;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HCF3A0A0DA421400FA3DAC0B5BA35EE51"><enum>(B)</enum><text>recognizing local self-government, as provided for in the Covenant To Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union With the United States of America through consultation with the Governor of the Commonwealth;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H30AA9D9630E34061979F63EEB7C3FB3"><enum>(C)</enum><text>assisting the Commonwealth in achieving a progressively higher standard of living for citizens of the Commonwealth through the provision of technical and other assistance;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H3A53B53EF66B4C22A33B08045B00B769"><enum>(D)</enum><text>providing opportunities for individuals authorized to work in the United States, including citizens of the freely associated states; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H4B9A1FC8F60041F3BD8428BBBD2BAE1D"><enum>(E)</enum><text>providing a mechanism for the continued use of alien workers, to the extent those workers continue to be necessary to supplement the Commonwealth’s resident workforce, and to protect those workers from the potential for abuse and exploitation.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H2CE97AE3DBB94C64A079CB0088FBB703"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Avoiding adverse effects</header><text>In recognition of the Commonwealth’s unique economic circumstances, history, and geographical location, it is the intent of the Congress that the Commonwealth be given as much flexibility as possible in maintaining existing businesses and other revenue sources, and developing new economic opportunities, consistent with the mandates of this title. This title, and the amendments made by this title, should be implemented wherever possible to expand tourism and economic development in the Commonwealth, including aiding prospective tourists in gaining access to the Commonwealth’s memorials, beaches, parks, dive sites, and other points of interest.</text></subsection></section> <section id="HF33513BD88EE4A51B59BCE8B935E7800"><enum>103.</enum><header>Immigration reform for the commonwealth</header> <subsection id="H9EB156B55A4A48BE82BC1BCC2E388CB"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Amendment to joint resolution approving covenant establishing Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands</header><text>The Joint Resolution entitled <quote>A Joint Resolution to approve the <quote>Covenant To Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States of America</quote>, and for other purposes</quote>, approved March 24, 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/94/241">Public Law 94–241</external-xref>; 90 Stat. 263), is amended by adding at the end the following new section:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE8A7FE1533DB4DA4AF2E8F80EB8C98D3" style="OLC"> <section id="H20700723A6CF45A995C086A1265D393C"><enum>6.</enum><header>Immigration and transition</header> <subsection id="H470B49F3C3844E2A9B7BD54935693C38"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Application of the immigration and nationality Act and establishment of a transition program</header> <paragraph id="H144CF43181BB4CB5B1EEBACD3458077E"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), effective on the first day of the first full month commencing 1 year after the date of the enactment of the Northern Mariana Islands Immigration, Security, and Labor Act (hereafter referred to as the <quote>transition program effective date</quote>), the provisions of the <quote>immigration laws</quote> (as defined in section 101(a)(17) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1101">8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(17)</external-xref>)) shall apply to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (referred to in this section as the <quote>Commonwealth</quote>), except as otherwise provided in this section.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HB24D284660B64B3C98FF81AECCEECA5B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Transition period</header><text>There shall be a transition period beginning on the transition program effective date and ending on December 31, 2013, except as provided in subsections (b) and (d), during which the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of the Interior, shall establish, administer, and enforce a transition program to regulate immigration to the Commonwealth, as provided in this section (hereafter referred to as the <quote>transition program</quote>).</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HA4A1B91E71D449D7883E00E4B1937DF3"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Delay of commencement of transition period</header> <subparagraph id="HCB809A13BC9B4583B08F263BB8C4E341"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary of Homeland Security, in the Secretary’s sole discretion, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, and the Governor of the Commonwealth, may determine that the transition program effective date be delayed for a period not to exceed more than 180 days after such date.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H9FE0FC9C330E464CB6B97149B882FE88"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Congressional notification</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Homeland Security shall notify the Congress of a determination under subparagraph (A) not later than 30 days prior to the transition program effective date.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H91FCDBD858C344FFA6860834002FE434"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Congressional review</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A delay of the transition program effective date shall not take effect until 30 days after the date on which the notification under subparagraph (B) is made.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="HC60DE1C98F374C379C62B4DA8E5CF19"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Requirement for regulations</header><text>The transition program shall be implemented pursuant to regulations to be promulgated, as appropriate, by the head of each agency or department of the United States having responsibilities under the transition program.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H301D2A5FE2274BDF9577C698E8292DD0"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Interagency agreements</header><text>The Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of the Interior shall negotiate and implement agreements among their agencies to identify and assign their respective duties so as to ensure timely and proper implementation of the provisions of this section. The agreements should address, at a minimum, procedures to ensure that Commonwealth employers have access to adequate labor, and that tourists, students, retirees, and other visitors have access to the Commonwealth without unnecessary delay or impediment. The agreements may also allocate funding between the respective agencies tasked with various responsibilities under this section.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H17741110E4F24A9F8379B835ED8BEC15"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Certain education funding</header><text>In addition to fees charged pursuant to section 286(m) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1356">8 U.S.C. 1356(m)</external-xref>) to recover the full costs of providing adjudication services, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall charge an annual supplemental fee of $150 per nonimmigrant worker to each prospective employer who is issued a permit under subsection (d) of this section during the transition period. Such supplemental fee shall be paid into the Treasury of the Commonwealth government for the purpose of funding ongoing vocational educational curricula and program development by Commonwealth educational entities.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HF0A7F416FB2342FF9FADAB2C763576E9"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Asylum</header><text>Section 208 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1158">8 U.S.C. 1158</external-xref>) shall not apply during the transition period to persons physically present in the Commonwealth or arriving in the Commonwealth (whether or not at a designated port of arrival), including persons brought to the Commonwealth after having been interdicted in international or United States waters.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H66C3D2917F8149D2AEFD27C76CABD2AB"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Numerical limitations for nonimmigrant workers</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An alien, if otherwise qualified, may seek admission to Guam or to the Commonwealth during the transition program as a nonimmigrant worker under section 101(a)(15)(H) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1101">8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(H)</external-xref>) without counting against the numerical limitations set forth in section 214(g) of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1184">8 U.S.C. 1184(g)</external-xref>). This subsection does not apply to any employment to be performed outside of Guam or the Commonwealth. Not later than 3 years following the transition program effective date, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall issue a report to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives projecting the number of asylum claims the Secretary anticipates following the termination of the transition period, the efforts the Secretary has made to ensure appropriate interdiction efforts, provide for appropriate treatment of asylum seekers, and prepare to accept and adjudicate asylum claims in the Commonwealth.</text></subsection> <subsection id="H8E21715C971F416DB61987BF61B413F"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Nonimmigrant investor visas</header> <paragraph id="HD6BB85CACAD0401794258DF95D31E5F9"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Notwithstanding the treaty requirements in section 101(a)(15)(E) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1101">8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(E)</external-xref>), during the transition period, the Secretary of Homeland Security may, upon the application of an alien, classify an alien as a CNMI-only nonimmigrant under section 101(a)(15)(E)(ii) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1101">8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(E)(ii)</external-xref>) if the alien—</text> <subparagraph id="H05D160A5A5754FD29C254493F0972013"><enum>(A)</enum><text>has been admitted to the Commonwealth in long-term investor status under the immigration laws of the Commonwealth before the transition program effective date;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HAF064462BAFE446C9D1639C1C1656B01"><enum>(B)</enum><text>has continuously maintained residence in the Commonwealth under long-term investor status;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H04D1596662634BAC9B53E46CBFFE9B18"><enum>(C)</enum><text>is otherwise admissible; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H5A792E83EB6445D7BE90872300AD173D"><enum>(D)</enum><text>maintains the investment or investments that formed the basis for such long-term investor status.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="HB181B2BAE58D45E90047C17C6861EFEB"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Requirement for regulations</header><text>Not later than 60 days before the transition program effective date, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall publish regulations in the Federal Register to implement this subsection.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="HB7D788FADB354C6C9C3093E76CFA016B"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Special provision to ensure adequate employment; commonwealth only transitional workers</header><text>An alien who is seeking to enter the Commonwealth as a nonimmigrant worker may be admitted to perform work during the transition period subject to the following requirements:</text> <paragraph id="H0C747F482EA045D0846582D887F09641"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Such an alien shall be treated as a nonimmigrant described in section 101(a)(15) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1101">8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)</external-xref>), including the ability to apply, if otherwise eligible, for a change of nonimmigrant classification under section 248 of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1258">8 U.S.C. 1258</external-xref>) or adjustment of status under this section and section 245 of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1255">8 U.S.C. 1255</external-xref>).</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H5B61F13E179548899BD5505A7722803"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish, administer, and enforce a system for allocating and determining the number, terms, and conditions of permits to be issued to prospective employers for each such nonimmigrant worker described in this subsection who would not otherwise be eligible for admission under the Immigration and Nationality Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1101">8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.</external-xref>). In adopting and enforcing this system, the Secretary shall also consider, in good faith and not later than 30 days after receipt by the Secretary, any comments and advice submitted by the Governor of the Commonwealth. This system shall provide for a reduction in the allocation of permits for such workers on an annual basis, to zero, during a period not to extend beyond December 31, 2013, unless extended pursuant to paragraph 5 of this subsection, and shall take into account the number of petitions granted under subsection (i). In no event shall a permit be valid beyond the expiration of the transition period. This system may be based on any reasonable method and criteria determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security to promote the maximum use of, and to prevent adverse effects on wages and working conditions of, workers authorized to be employed in the United States, including lawfully admissible freely associated state citizen labor. No alien shall be granted nonimmigrant classification or a visa under this subsection unless the permit requirements established under this paragraph have been met. </text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HD922F3FE731B4694AC3651D18C91A0FC"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The Secretary of Homeland Security shall set the conditions for admission of such an alien under the transition program, and the Secretary of State shall authorize the issuance of nonimmigrant visas for such an alien. Such a visa shall not be valid for admission to the United States, as defined in section 101(a)(38) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1101">8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(38)</external-xref>), except admission to the Commonwealth. An alien admitted to the Commonwealth on the basis of such a visa shall be permitted to engage in employment only as authorized pursuant to the transition program.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H3CB0CADBDA124B2FB4AC00709D42672"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Such an alien shall be permitted to transfer between employers in the Commonwealth during the period of such alien’s authorized stay therein, without permission of the employee’s current or prior employer, within the alien’s occupational category or another occupational category the Secretary of Homeland Security has found requires alien workers to supplement the resident workforce.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H8A48B901E99E4E05B79F9900C9BB8529"><enum>(5)</enum> <subparagraph id="HA08685BE510A4FABB7FDD64F11CB0AC" display-inline="yes-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Not later than 180 days prior to the expiration of the transition period, or any extension thereof, the Secretary of Labor, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Governor of the Commonwealth, shall ascertain the current and anticipated labor needs of the Commonwealth and determine whether an extension of up to 5 years of the provisions of this subsection is necessary to ensure an adequate number of workers will be available for legitimate businesses in the Commonwealth. For the purpose of this subparagraph, a business shall not be considered legitimate if it engages directly or indirectly in prostitution, trafficking in minors, or any other activity that is illegal under Federal or local law. The determinations of whether a business is legitimate and to what extent, if any, it may require alien workers to supplement the resident workforce, shall be made by the Secretary of Homeland Security, in the Secretary’s sole discretion.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H0BD69BDCBBF14D55BCC8F8BDDED93803" commented="no" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>If the Secretary of Labor determines that such an extension is necessary to ensure an adequate number of workers for legitimate businesses in the Commonwealth, the Secretary of Labor may, through notice published in the Federal Register, provide for an additional extension period of up to 5 years.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HB78839FE163D4E338E359B743C17D7B1" commented="no" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>In making the determination of whether alien workers are necessary to ensure an adequate number of workers for legitimate businesses in the Commonwealth, and if so, the number of such workers that are necessary, the Secretary of Labor may consider, among other relevant factors—</text> <clause id="HEF649250E99E43B99775E43121678F2E" commented="no"><enum>(i)</enum><text>government, industry, or independent workforce studies reporting on the need, or lack thereof, for alien workers in the Commonwealth’s businesses;</text></clause> <clause id="H7B17653DF48741AFA9735DCF263BFD3D" commented="no"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the unemployment rate of United States citizen workers residing in the Commonwealth;</text></clause> <clause id="H6AB1B5968D8843989527728D7261C16E" commented="no"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the unemployment rate of aliens in the Commonwealth who have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence;</text></clause> <clause id="H22B7F8804B634E269DB63480E5919CAE" commented="no"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the number of unemployed alien workers in the Commonwealth;</text></clause> <clause id="HE5226345D80A47828B10724DA5B8552" commented="no"><enum>(v)</enum><text>any good faith efforts to locate, educate, train, or otherwise prepare United States citizen residents, lawful permanent residents, and unemployed alien workers already within the Commonwealth, to assume those jobs;</text></clause> <clause id="H7A3CDD7F39FD4027B97D5DA19B24ED83" commented="no"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>any available evidence tending to show that United States citizen residents, lawful permanent residents, and unemployed alien workers already in the Commonwealth are not willing to accept jobs of the type offered;</text></clause> <clause id="H504E8D70A5E34F0794828C4129BCD02D" commented="no"><enum>(vii)</enum><text>the extent to which admittance of alien workers will affect the compensation, benefits, and living standards of existing workers within those industries and other industries authorized to employ alien workers; and</text></clause> <clause id="HDC48C180FE3D475692A968FB33001449" commented="no"><enum>(viii)</enum><text>the prior use, if any, of alien workers to fill those industry jobs, and whether the industry requires alien workers to fill those jobs.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="HFD5312B2154F4283AFEC77115DD50054"><enum>(6)</enum><text>The Secretary of Homeland Security may authorize the admission of a spouse or minor child accompanying or following to join a worker admitted pursuant to this subsection.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H098A7B308A6944F7A5935C2200A6151E"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Persons lawfully admitted under the Commonwealth immigration law</header> <paragraph id="H65178FFF2B364425AFC363ED2448C2AB"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Prohibition on removal</header> <subparagraph id="HC52787B1AAB04856B3658E08ECECE9CB"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to subparagraph (B), no alien who is lawfully present in the Commonwealth pursuant to the immigration laws of the Commonwealth on the transition program effective date shall be removed from the United States on the grounds that such alien's presence in the Commonwealth is in violation of section 212(a)(6)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1182">8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(6)(A)</external-xref>), until the earlier of the date—</text> <clause id="HC40CE10D894449B39D4B7B62A61B6BFA"><enum>(i)</enum><text>of the completion of the period of the alien's admission under the immigration laws of the Commonwealth; or</text></clause> <clause id="HE1E06063027C45EA86EC7309D6467BEE"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>that is 2 years after the transition program effective date.</text></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HF9BD2A1AA8714F60A8D58309C740351"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Limitations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prevent or limit the removal under subparagraph 212(a)(6)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1182">8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(6)(A)</external-xref>) of such an alien at any time, if the alien entered the Commonwealth after the date of the enactment of the Northern Mariana Islands Immigration, Security, and Labor Act, and the Secretary of Homeland Security has determined that the Government of the Commonwealth has violated section 103(i) of the Northern Mariana Islands Immigration, Security, and Labor Act.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="HE4B13503587B4E450030F3FE72EBC4C9"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Employment authorization</header><text>An alien who is lawfully present and authorized to be employed in the Commonwealth pursuant to the immigration laws of the Commonwealth on the transition program effective date shall be considered authorized by the Secretary of Homeland Security to be employed in the Commonwealth until the earlier of the date—</text> <subparagraph id="HDCACC653797444D38253CA96C939F4EF"><enum>(A)</enum><text>of expiration of the alien's employment authorization under the immigration laws of the Commonwealth; or</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H2FD6EA387F3A4EF7A44250C758D598DE"><enum>(B)</enum><text>that is 2 years after the transition program effective date.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="HD09FB8C07A094EC687F1E97D19874560"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Registration</header><text>The Secretary of Homeland Security may require any alien present in the Commonwealth on or after the transition period effective date to register with the Secretary in such a manner, and according to such schedule, as he may in his discretion require. Paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection shall not apply to any alien who fails to comply with such registration requirement. Notwithstanding any other law, the Government of the Commonwealth shall provide to the Secretary all Commonwealth immigration records or other information that the Secretary deems necessary to assist the implementation of this paragraph or other provisions of the Northern Mariana Islands Immigration, Security, and Labor Act. Nothing in this paragraph shall modify or limit section 262 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1302">8 U.S.C. 1302</external-xref>) or other provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act relating to the registration of aliens.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H0479B6BE742749C084AE39B625B6C732"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Removable aliens</header><text>Except as specifically provided in paragraph (1)(A) of this subsection, nothing in this subsection shall prohibit or limit the removal of any alien who is removable under the Immigration and Nationality Act.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HDC08D2695941458893001518249DC797"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Prior orders of removal</header><text>The Secretary of Homeland Security may execute any administratively final order of exclusion, deportation or removal issued under authority of the immigration laws of the United States before, on, or after the transition period effective date, or under authority of the immigration laws of the Commonwealth before the transition period effective date, upon any subject of such order found in the Commonwealth on or after the transition period effective date, regardless whether the alien has previously been removed from the United States or the Commonwealth pursuant to such order.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="HF26A252694D64C5E9243DDF161CEA95F"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Effect on other laws</header><text>The provisions of this section and of the immigration laws, as defined in section 101(a)(17) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1101">8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(17)</external-xref>), shall, on the transition program effective date, supersede and replace all laws, provisions, or programs of the Commonwealth relating to the admission of aliens and the removal of aliens from the Commonwealth.</text></subsection> <subsection id="H68F2530DB37C4B7FB506F3E0AA5FAD04"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Accrual of time for purposes of Section 212(a)(9)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act</header><text>No time that an alien is present in the Commonwealth in violation of the immigration laws of the Commonwealth shall be counted for purposes of inadmissibility under section 212(a)(9)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1182">8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(9)(B)</external-xref>).</text></subsection> <subsection id="H27DFCB6F74B041469C99D89CAC654B21" commented="no"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Report on nonresident guestworker population</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Governor of the Commonwealth, shall report to the Congress not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of the Northern Mariana Islands Immigration, Security, and Labor Act. The report shall include—</text> <paragraph id="H4B955EB6AD4445F5B83537483FECE89F" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the number of aliens residing in the Commonwealth; </text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H8D22BA4EBA2847DE96D97F316127FDE2" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text>a description of the legal status (under Federal law) of such aliens;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H3E9B9D7DF79F4202A375F3B0865E95BF" commented="no"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the number of years each alien has been residing in the Commonwealth;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H25B50560D0B748F7990200DA93BE8B2" commented="no"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the current and future requirements of the Commonwealth economy for an alien workforce; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HF6AACEAAC757471C90C1E5FA8950B205" commented="no"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">such recommendations to the Congress, as the Secretary may deem appropriate, related to whether or not the Congress should consider permitting lawfully admitted guest workers lawfully residing in the Commonwealth on such enactment date to apply for long-term status under the immigration and nationality laws of the United States.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection> <subsection id="H746EFB21A0E545EFB1840062648D8C78"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Waiver of requirements for nonimmigrant visitors</header><text>The Immigration and Nationality Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1101">8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="H913F1E6DB086482D91DD72DFE446562"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline"> in section 214(a)(1) (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1184">8 U.S.C. 1184(a)(1)</external-xref>)—</text> <subparagraph id="H1C70032138704F0F88001DCD82435040"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking “Guam” each place such term appears and inserting “Guam or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands”; and </text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H7F105709266C40ED9B40BEE0AA58EAF"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking “fifteen” and inserting “45”;</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H66C60C4CAC0E475F8153443B44FEB72C"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in section 212(a)(7)(B) (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1182">8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(7)(B)</external-xref>), by amending clause (iii) to read as follows:</text> <quoted-block id="HD0B347F65A204268AD00D8A800E384D" style="OLC"> <clause id="HBF14866DD4A14782ABBFEC784E14CA76"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Guam and Northern Mariana Islands visa waiver</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For provision authorizing waiver of clause (i) in the case of visitors to Guam or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, see subsection (l).</text></clause><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph> <paragraph id="HA6660A9863E4451B9E4DB0005DA4758F"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by amending section 212(l) (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1182">8 U.S.C. 1182(l)</external-xref>) to read as follows:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" id="HAC5C283EF3C74B3D8E51E11D2EDA8800" display-inline="no-display-inline"> <subsection id="H08B7C8EB01134ED19CCBC24E48B4DBF5"><enum>(l)</enum><header>Guam and Northern Mariana Islands visa waiver program</header> <paragraph id="H8E76F780658145C58F7FE3DF62B6F169"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The requirement of subsection (a)(7)(B)(i) may be waived by the Secretary of Homeland Security, in the case of an alien applying for admission as a nonimmigrant visitor for business or pleasure and solely for entry into and stay in Guam or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands for a period not to exceed 45 days, if the Secretary of Homeland Security, after consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of State, the Governor of Guam and the Governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, determines that—</text> <subparagraph id="HE78DAE93F9C742989B3C4103FB00C967"><enum>(A)</enum><text>an adequate arrival and departure control system has been developed in Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H24088790EE7742D18B5DBED576BC9E6D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>such a waiver does not represent a threat to the welfare, safety, or security of the United States or its territories and commonwealths.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H27D97C3A6BC446C883CD633C00AADDDD"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Alien waiver of rights</header><text>An alien may not be provided a waiver under this subsection unless the alien has waived any right—</text> <subparagraph id="H285A35C56A3C4D2EADE564A42982B7B3"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to review or appeal under this Act an immigration officer’s determination as to the admissibility of the alien at the port of entry into Guam or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; or</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H3F1C06D154FA4AB3B08FF7313BCB3484"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to contest, other than on the basis of an application for withholding of removal under section 241(b)(3) of this Act or under the Convention Against Torture, or an application for asylum if permitted under section 208, any action for removal of the alien.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="HCF2F31DA84D54671BCE7D323C4CE8CBB"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Regulations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline"> All necessary regulations to implement this subsection shall be promulgated by the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of State, on or before the 180th day after the date of the enactment of the Northern Mariana Islands Immigration, Security, and Labor Act. The promulgation of such regulations shall be considered a foreign affairs function for purposes of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/553">section 553(a)</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code. At a minimum, such regulations should include, but not necessarily be limited to—</text> <subparagraph id="HE95B4E475790489A8965956984008E7D"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a listing of all countries whose nationals may obtain the waiver also provided by this subsection, except that such regulations shall provide for a listing of any country from which the Commonwealth has received a significant economic benefit from the number of visitors for pleasure within the one-year period preceding the date of the enactment of the Northern Mariana Islands Immigration, Security, and Labor Act, unless the Secretary of Homeland Security determines that such country’s inclusion on such list would represent a threat to the welfare, safety, or security of the United States or its territories; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H56CD3C8463D34FF583303699E1D98CD"><enum>(B)</enum><text>any bonding requirements for nationals of some or all of those countries who may present an increased risk of overstays or other potential problems, if different from such requirements otherwise provided by law for nonimmigrant visitors.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="HB9476BCC756446498EFEE8DB60A11F83"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Factors</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In determining whether to grant or continue providing the waiver under this subsection to nationals of any country, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of State, shall consider all factors that the Secretary deems relevant, including electronic travel authorizations, procedures for reporting lost and stolen passports, repatriation of aliens, rates of refusal for nonimmigrant visitor visas, overstays, exit systems, and information exchange.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H222332048A024297B9C904E945085198"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Suspension</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Homeland Security shall monitor the admission of nonimmigrant visitors to Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands under this subsection. If the Secretary determines that such admissions have resulted in an unacceptable number of visitors from a country remaining unlawfully in Guam or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, unlawfully obtaining entry to other parts of the United States, or seeking withholding of removal or asylum, or that visitors from a country pose a risk to law enforcement or security interests of Guam or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands or of the United States (including the interest in the enforcement of the immigration laws of the United States), the Secretary shall suspend the admission of nationals of such country under this subsection. The Secretary of Homeland Security may in the Secretary’s discretion suspend the Guam and Northern Mariana Islands visa waiver program at any time, on a country-by-country basis, for other good cause.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HABCC52775B184500893838169BE1B6CC"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Addition of countries</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Governor of Guam and the Governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands may request the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Homeland Security to add a particular country to the list of countries whose nationals may obtain the waiver provided by this subsection, and the Secretary of Homeland Security may grant such request after consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of State, and may promulgate regulations with respect to the inclusion of that country and any special requirements the Secretary of Homeland Security, in the Secretary’s sole discretion, may impose prior to allowing nationals of that country to obtain the waiver provided by this subsection.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph> </subsection> <subsection id="HD210D96D4EBC4CAE9BE76C7EFC00C3D7"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Special nonimmigrant categories for Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Governor of Guam and the Governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (referred to in this subsection as <quote>CNMI</quote>) may request that the Secretary of Homeland Security study the feasibility of creating additional Guam or CNMI-only nonimmigrant visas to the extent that existing nonimmigrant visa categories under the Immigration and Nationality Act do not provide for the type of visitor, the duration of allowable visit, or other circumstance. The Secretary of Homeland Security may review such a request, and, after consultation with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Interior, shall issue a report to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives with respect to the feasibility of creating those additional Guam or CNMI-only visa categories. Consideration of such additional Guam or CNMI-only visa categories may include, but are not limited to, special nonimmigrant statuses for investors, students, and retirees, but shall not include nonimmigrant status for the purpose of employment in Guam or the CNMI.</text></subsection> <subsection id="H148977BD761948A9AB622086291F0069"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Inspection of persons arriving from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana islands; Guam and Northern Mariana Islands-only visas not valid for entry into other parts of the United States</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 212(d)(7) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1182">8 U.S.C. 1182(d)(7)</external-xref>) is amended by inserting <quote>the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands,</quote> after <quote>Guam,</quote>.</text></subsection> <subsection id="HCA425926385445128B7C30B0C800322"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Technical assistance program</header> <paragraph id="H9BB7F640AA6042D1A38CFFF5E7253EC"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the Governor of the Commonwealth, the Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of Commerce, and as provided in the Interagency Agreements required to be negotiated under section 6(a)(4) of the Joint Resolution entitled <quote>A Joint Resolution to approve the <quote>Covenant To Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States of America</quote>, and for other purposes</quote>, approved March 24, 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/94/241">Public Law 94–241</external-xref>), as added by subsection (a), shall provide—</text> <subparagraph id="HD5990D6DFBCB4D55B2E1849F9D89435"><enum>(A)</enum><text>technical assistance and other support to the Commonwealth to identify opportunities for, and encourage diversification and growth of, the economy of the Commonwealth; </text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H35581A2B08544DA2848BBF40D340F472"><enum>(B)</enum><text>technical assistance, including assistance in recruiting, training, and hiring of workers, to assist employers in the Commonwealth in securing employees first from among United States citizens and nationals resident in the Commonwealth and if an adequate number of such workers are not available, from among legal permanent residents, including lawfully admissible citizens of the freely associated states; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HC0F1D3278E474CC59965C80DC9388B"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">technical assistance, including assistance to identify types of jobs needed, identify skills needed to fulfill such jobs, and assistance to Commonwealth educational entities to develop curricula for such job skills to include training teachers and students for such skills.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H332725A941B04A479783E259D767136B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Consultation</header><text>In providing such technical assistance under paragraph (1), the Secretaries shall—</text> <subparagraph id="H1EEC7CEE31A34A54A5CBA4D3BA087C22"><enum>(A)</enum><text>consult with the Government of the Commonwealth, local businesses, regional banks, educational institutions, and other experts in the economy of the Commonwealth; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H6107DA3F3C0747B0004330CCDA4F500"><enum>(B)</enum><text>assist in the development and implementation of a process to identify opportunities for and encourage diversification and growth of the economy of the Commonwealth and to identify and encourage opportunities to meet the labor needs of the Commonwealth.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="HFFAC2D81161B4E169FFC7C20157F95DF"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Cost-sharing</header><text>For the provision of technical assistance or support under this paragraph (other than that required to pay the salaries and expenses of Federal personnel), the Secretary of the Interior shall require a non-Federal matching contribution of 10 percent.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H97B5EF9C004F4FD49E2D47249EE65694"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Operations</header> <paragraph id="H23BD141D571A42ECA2F8F69E3F8260C3"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">At any time on and after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Attorney General, Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Secretary of Labor may establish and maintain offices and other operations in the Commonwealth for the purpose of carrying out duties under—</text> <subparagraph id="H55F9AD03C13B43D58FE93902387C16EB"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Immigration and Nationality Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1101">8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.</external-xref>); and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HCFE2B9F66FFF4A669752C96FFD968394"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the transition program established under section 6 of the Joint Resolution entitled <quote>A Joint Resolution to approve the <quote>Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States of America</quote>, and for other purposes</quote>, approved March 24, 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/94/241">Public Law 94–241</external-xref>), as added by subsection (a) of this section.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H9E2C17FE2EBE4A93A4105F6EEF90AF3C"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Personnel</header><text>To the maximum extent practicable and consistent with the satisfactory performance of assigned duties under applicable law, the Attorney General, Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Secretary of Labor shall recruit and hire personnel from among qualified United States citizens and national applicants residing in the Commonwealth to serve as staff in carrying out operations described in paragraph (1).</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="HE75937D1B285489FA60826577D526F90"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Conforming amendments to <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/94/241">Public Law 94–241</external-xref></header> <paragraph id="HF0BEE4BA10BB44FB93AA5F0AFC71C9F"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Amendments</header><text>Public Law 94–241 is amended as follows:</text> <subparagraph id="H6488C44E71464BBFAD4F5DDF294C7FDC" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text>In section 503 of the covenant set forth in section 1, by striking subsection (a) and redesignating subsections (b) and (c) as subsections (a) and (b), respectively.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HE38F2DB14AE04C46A2275D900000682D"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">By striking section 506 of the covenant set forth in section 1.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H3B188BA28C664C339CB8EAA4F180C72D"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In section 703(b) of the covenant set forth in section 1, by striking <quote>quarantine, passport, immigration and naturalization</quote> and inserting <quote>quarantine and passport</quote>.</text></subparagraph> </paragraph> <paragraph id="H61D5E24B30D1480880835FC9B1B577F8"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Effective date</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The amendments made by paragraph (1) shall take effect on the transition program effective date described in section 6 of <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/94/241">Public Law 94–241</external-xref> (as added by subsection (a)).</text></paragraph> </subsection> <subsection id="H598549AF5652448FBB93641F800083B5"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Reports to Congress</header> <paragraph id="HAE60A1771AD045989EFEF15C00467E56"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than March 1 of the first year that is at least 2 full years after the date of the enactment of this title, and annually thereafter, the President shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives a report that evaluates the overall effect of the transition program established under section 6 of the Joint Resolution entitled <quote>A Joint Resolution to approve the <quote>Covenant To Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States of America</quote>, and for other purposes</quote>, approved March 24, 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/94/241">Public Law 94–241</external-xref>), as added by subsection (a) of this section, and the Immigration and Nationality Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1101">8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.</external-xref>) on the Commonwealth.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HD757E68252BA4A129B60AD3CC7FFF0C1"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Contents</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In addition to other topics otherwise required to be included under this title or the amendments made by this title, each report submitted under paragraph (1) shall include a description of the efforts that have been undertaken during the period covered by the report to diversify and strengthen the local economy of the Commonwealth, including efforts to promote the Commonwealth as a tourist destination. The report by the President shall include an estimate for the numbers of nonimmigrant workers described under section 101(a)(15)(H) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1101">8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(H)</external-xref>) necessary to avoid adverse economic effects in Guam and the Commonwealth.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HF1A6278CF0704C0AB4B347F0DFD0200"><enum>(3)</enum><header>GAO report</header><text>The Government Accountability Office shall submit a report to the Congress not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this title, to include, at a minimum, the following items:</text> <subparagraph id="H327FD6B9A29F445600AB6E8646A1D9AA"><enum>(A)</enum><text>An assessment of the implementation of this title and the amendments made by this title, including an assessment of the performance of Federal agencies and the Government of the Commonwealth in meeting congressional intent.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HB2B90078F2D44C4680C4BE38341C59D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>An assessment of the short-term and long-term impacts of implementation of this title and the amendments made by this title on the economy of the Commonwealth, including its ability to obtain workers to supplement its resident workforce and to maintain access to its tourists and customers, and any effect on compliance with United States treaty obligations mandating non-refoulement for refugees.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H05A0968DDBE44E43A188293B5953D77F"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An assessment of the economic benefit of the investors <quote>grandfathered</quote> under subsection (c) of section 6 of the Joint Resolution entitled <quote>A Joint Resolution to approve the <quote>Covenant To Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States of America</quote>, and for other purposes</quote>, approved March 24, 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/94/241">Public Law 94–241</external-xref>), as added by subsection (a) of this section, and the Commonwealth’s ability to attract new investors after the date of the enactment of this title.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H434B6EAC85F247C287F2A1B1CC03AE35"><enum>(D)</enum><text>An assessment of the number of illegal aliens in the Commonwealth, including any Federal and Commonwealth efforts to locate and repatriate them.</text></subparagraph> </paragraph> <paragraph id="HEAC0E9F3D9834F8095807571D0EC9F82"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Reports by the local government</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Governor of the Commonwealth may submit an annual report to the President on the implementation of this title, and the amendments made by this title, with recommendations for future changes. The President shall forward the Governor’s report to the Congress with any Administration comment after an appropriate period of time for internal review, provided that nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to require the President to provide any legislative recommendation to the Congress.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H786D4EE6BE014E9DB49E0044FDCE3F02"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Report on Federal personnel and resource requirements</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, after consulting with the Secretary of the Interior and other departments and agencies as may be deemed necessary, shall submit a report to the Committee on Natural Resources, the Committee on Homeland Security, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives, and to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate, on the current and planned levels of Transportation Security Administration, United States Customs and Border Protection, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, and United States Coast Guard personnel and resources necessary for fulfilling mission requirements on Guam and the Commonwealth in a manner comparable to the level provided at other similar ports of entry in the United States. In fulfilling this reporting requirement, the Secretary shall consider and anticipate the increased requirements due to the proposed realignment of military forces on Guam and in the Commonwealth and growth in the tourism sector.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H6BF58A96E73D4D219651F14D430923EF"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Required actions prior to transition program effective date</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">During the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on the transition program effective date described in section 6 of <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/94/241">Public Law 94–241</external-xref> (as added by subsection (a)), the Government of the Commonwealth shall—</text> <paragraph id="H336795C62F844BC48B00A27D6B261800"><enum>(1)</enum><text>not permit an increase in the total number of alien workers who are present in the Commonwealth as of the date of the enactment of this Act; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H053F4782F3C44082A9E139E435FACA71"><enum>(2)</enum><text>administer its nonrefoulement protection program—</text> <subparagraph id="H6B16937F46E64785A31CF2B55815E700"><enum>(A)</enum><text>according to the terms and procedures set forth in the Memorandum of Agreement entered into between the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the United States Department of Interior, Office of Insular Affairs, executed on September 12, 2003 (which terms and procedures, including but not limited to funding by the Secretary of the Interior and performance by the Secretary of Homeland Security of the duties of <quote>Protection Consultant</quote> to the Commonwealth, shall have effect on and after the date of the enactment of this Act), as well as CNMI <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/13/61">Public Law 13–61</external-xref> and the Immigration Regulations Establishing a Procedural Mechanism for Persons Requesting Protection from Refoulement; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HA3BF36B897E74ED48E3852A3157D70B"><enum>(B)</enum><text>so as not to remove or otherwise effect the involuntary return of any alien whom the Protection Consultant has determined to be eligible for protection from persecution or torture.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H2EF0216F78704B97BE3626B0D399D7B0"><enum>(j)</enum><header>Conforming amendments to the Immigration and Nationality Act</header><text>The Immigration and Nationality Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1101">8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="H52E47679618147EC84D513E4B4771DE"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in section 101(a)(15)(D)(ii), by inserting <quote>or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands</quote> after <quote>Guam</quote> each time such term appears;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HEB323ACA719544749C4D8D909CBE72BF"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in section 101(a)(36), by striking <quote>and the Virgin Islands of the United States</quote> and inserting <quote>the Virgin Islands of the United States, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands</quote>;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HDDBA25C5CCD24B0993C9B2CB4F9000EE"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in section 101(a)(38), by striking <quote>and the Virgin Islands of the United States</quote> and inserting <quote>the Virgin Islands of the United States, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands</quote>;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HE0AB29285C2043FFBE00F143FDFAF710"><enum>(4)</enum><text>in section 208, by adding at the end the following: </text> <quoted-block style="OLC" id="H639FFB0C7BB748F59125DC00D8D12B75" display-inline="no-display-inline"> <subsection id="HABCD069B5B1044D18EB71640BC016DF6"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands</header><text>The provisions of this section and section 209(b) of this Act shall apply to persons physically present in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands or arriving in the Commonwealth (whether or not at a designated port of arrival and including persons who are brought to the Commonwealth after having been interdicted in international or United States waters) only on or after January 1, 2014.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph> <paragraph id="HA4FF942951454EB4834510DDFC67894F"><enum>(5)</enum><text>in section 235(b)(1), by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" id="HF1FA5199D73D4251834095003113265F" display-inline="no-display-inline"> <subparagraph id="HF50260FD2BCD48209BF91F0658E55D46"><enum>(G)</enum><header>Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands</header><text>Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to authorize or require any person described in section 208(e) of this Act to be permitted to apply for asylum under section 208 of this Act at any time before January 1, 2014.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H0A0A038ACAF345F4BC80AF3BA1F67B4D" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(k)</enum><header>Availability of other nonimmigrant professionals</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The requirements of section 212(m)(6)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1182">8 U.S.C. 1182(m)(6)(B)</external-xref>) shall not apply to a facility in Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or the Virgin Islands.</text></subsection></section> <section id="H9759CCFFDFB048F5B96846EC6018A396"><enum>104.</enum><header>Further amendments to <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/94/241">Public Law 94–241</external-xref></header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Public Law 94-241, as amended, is further amended in section 4(c)(3) by striking the colon after <quote>Marshall Islands</quote> and inserting the following: <quote>, except that $200,000 in fiscal year 2009 and $225,000 annually for fiscal years 2010 through 2018 are hereby rescinded; Provided, That the amount rescinded shall be increased by the same percentage as that of the annual salary and benefit adjustments for Members of Congress</quote>.</text></section> <section id="HC2E6BB768BE8496FAFB2D69CFFD1037F"><enum>105.</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this title.</text></section> <section id="H17E1000CA22A424A9843E0AF76B3C48B"><enum>106.</enum><header>Effective date</header> <subsection id="HBED30FF7FBB54569B451FBF9CFC47D46"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Except as specifically provided in this section or otherwise in this Act, this title and the amendments made by this title shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this title.</text></subsection> <subsection id="H87E56A5F07AA4AB1B2FA3EC3D2C9B7F5"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Amendments to the Immigration and Nationality Act</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The amendments to the Immigration and Nationality Act made by this Act, and other provisions of this Act applying the immigration laws (as defined in section 101(a)(17) of Immigration and Nationality Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1101">8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(17)</external-xref>)) to the Commonwealth, shall take effect on the transition program effective date described in section 6 of <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/94/241">Public Law 94–241</external-xref> (as added by section 103(a) of this Act), unless specifically provided otherwise in this Act.</text></subsection> <subsection id="HAF1D8E49B5ED49F699AB6E81ACBC84E3"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Construction</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Nothing in this Act or the amendments made by this Act shall be construed to make any residence or presence in the Commonwealth before the transition program effective date described in section 6 of <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/94/241">Public Law 94–241</external-xref> (as added by section 103(a) of this Act) residence or presence in the United States, except that, for the purpose only of determining whether an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence (as defined in section 101(a)(20) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1101">8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(20)</external-xref>)) has abandoned or lost such status by reason of absence from the United States, such alien’s presence in the Commonwealth before, on, or after the date of the enactment of this Act shall be considered to be presence in the United States.</text></subsection></section> <enum>II</enum><header>Northern Mariana Islands Delegate Act</header> <section id="HFE6AD7681DEF4C3798C4D7DD363396AD" section-type="subsequent-section" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>201.</enum><header>Short title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title may be cited as the <quote><short-title>Northern Mariana Islands Delegate Act</short-title></quote>.</text></section> <section id="HA2F974C80F4D4901AF3F71DA78872805"><enum>202.</enum><header>Delegate to House of Representatives from Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands shall be represented in the United States Congress by the Resident Representative to the United States authorized by section 901 of the Covenant To Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union With the United States of America (approved by <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/94/241">Public Law 94–241</external-xref> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/48/1801">48 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.</external-xref>)). The Resident Representative shall be a nonvoting Delegate to the House of Representatives, elected as provided in this title.</text></section> <section id="H0FAB744C40B046768893FD5F538C666"><enum>203.</enum><header>Election of delegate</header> <subsection id="H8127A48A9CCE4B3099CFE4F3183C4FD1"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Electors and time of election</header><text>The Delegate shall be elected—</text> <paragraph id="HCD41B26F9CCC4C8DBBD215BC7878D9CC"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by the people qualified to vote for the popularly elected officials of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H35BBD6A6EBAF4A24B796B2009B00E5D"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">at the Federal general election of 2008 and at such Federal general election every 2d year thereafter.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H6D2963D4EF1841DB88B22EF6F3226F5"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Manner of election</header><text></text> <paragraph id="HDE6A6FBE32EF42B8A8ADC3E7DFD590B0"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In General</header><text>The Delegate shall be elected at large and by a plurality of the votes cast for the office of Delegate. </text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H7AC805E0FD9C48F1B4DAB0A9ABE042BA"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Effect of Establishment of Primary Elections</header><text>Notwithstanding paragraph (1), if the Government of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, acting pursuant to legislation enacted in accordance with the Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, provides for primary elections for the election of the Delegate, the Delegate shall be elected by a majority of the votes cast in any general election for the office of Delegate for which such primary elections were held.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H790625AC959542B700A06207C0752DE5"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Vacancy</header><text>In case of a permanent vacancy in the office of Delegate, the office of Delegate shall remain vacant until a successor is elected and qualified.</text></subsection> <subsection id="H90054AF5AE2848849011031F426D3000"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Commencement of term</header><text>The term of the Delegate shall commence on the 3d day of January following the date of the election.</text></subsection></section> <section id="H0254EF7C5F7C4189ABC0D96733A1E598"><enum>204.</enum><header>Qualifications for Office of Delegate</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">To be eligible for the office of Delegate a candidate shall—</text> <paragraph id="H7C32DD31E1484672B0DF7389C9DEF460"><enum>(1)</enum><text>be at least 25 years of age on the date of the election;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HFA4A0FB462A4402E95F00F4A8128054"><enum>(2)</enum><text>have been a citizen of the United States for at least 7 years prior to the date of the election;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HDC2AA31280BD40D298E8181B9B51F4DC"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">be a resident and domiciliary of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands for at least 7 years prior to the date of the election;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HE9B832B3EE184F0199D9CA36FD85DBCE"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">be qualified to vote in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands on the date of the election; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H2B1DFD8221BA40F7B4FF6C10377E00B9"><enum>(5)</enum><text>not be, on the date of the election, a candidate for any other office.</text></paragraph></section> <section id="HF4EF920065EA423C928895686E93DF64"><enum>205.</enum><header>Determination of election procedure</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Acting pursuant to legislation enacted in accordance with the Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Government of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands may determine the order of names on the ballot for election of Delegate, the method by which a special election to fill a permanent vacancy in the office of Delegate shall be conducted, the method by which ties between candidates for the office of Delegate shall be resolved, and all other matters of local application pertaining to the election and the office of Delegate not otherwise expressly provided for in this title.</text></section> <section id="H36188710763B451AAF92362366F1A1D0"><enum>206.</enum><header>Compensation, privileges, and immunities</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Until the Rules of the House of Representatives are amended to provide otherwise, the Delegate from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands shall receive the same compensation, allowances, and benefits as a Member of the House of Representatives, and shall be entitled to whatever privileges and immunities are, or hereinafter may be, granted to any other nonvoting Delegate to the House of Representatives.</text></section> <section id="HAE2C5C4711D84C03819D14DF168900C9"><enum>207.</enum><header>Lack of effect on covenant</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">No provision of this title shall be construed to alter, amend, or abrogate any provision of the covenant referred to in section 202 except section 901 of the covenant.</text></section> <section id="HEAE011BF059D47D4904196FD6681A3CE"><enum>208.</enum><header>Definition</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">For purposes of this title, the term <term>Delegate</term> means the Resident Representative referred to in section 202.</text></section> <section id="H799C75EBD65D46948D6FBA697E81C728"><enum>209.</enum><header>Conforming amendments regarding appointments to military service academies by Delegate from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands</header> <subsection id="H2645C3F7893A4BF2ACF5E47218F13DE1"><enum>(a)</enum><header>United States Military Academy</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline"><external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/10/4342">Section 4342(a)(10)</external-xref> of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking <quote>resident representative</quote> and inserting <quote>Delegate in Congress</quote>.</text></subsection> <subsection id="H030CB542451047909380DDBC9E1022E0"><enum>(b)</enum><header>United States Naval Academy</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 6954(a)(10) of such title is amended by striking <quote>resident representative</quote> and inserting <quote>Delegate in Congress</quote>.</text></subsection> <subsection id="H55A222ECE4DC4A5DA91B832931080087"><enum>(c)</enum><header>United States Air Force Academy</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 9342(a)(10) of such title is amended by striking <quote>resident representative</quote> and inserting <quote>Delegate in Congress</quote>.</text></subsection></section>

Passed the House of Representatives December 11, 2007.

Lorraine C. Miller,Clerk.