<home> -- <press releases News from Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo Bordallo Meets with DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – September 21, 2009 – Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo, Chairwoman of the House Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife, and Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands today met with Secretary Janet Napolitano of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to discuss the implementation of Public Law 110-229, and in particular, the federalization of immigration in the CNMI and the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program. Secretary Napolitano assured Chairwoman Bordallo that the Department of Homeland Security is prepared to implement the border security components of P.L. 110-229, in the CNMI by the November 28, 2009 implementation date. During the meeting, Secretary Napolitano stated that she understood the economic impact that the exclusion of China and Russia from the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program would have on the CNMI, which relies heavily on visitors from these markets. Additionally, Secretary Napolitano stated that DHS is working in an expedited manner on a pathway forward, in advance of the November 28 implementation date, to address the Guam-CNMI visitor industry issues. “I thank Secretary Napolitano for her personal attention to these important issues,” Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo said today. “I look forward to working with her and the Department of Homeland Security in the weeks ahead to address the concerns of our community and stakeholders in the visitor industry before Public Law 110-229 is implemented on November 28, 2009.” PHOTO CAPTION: Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo and Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan of the CNMI are joined by Secretary Janet Napolitano of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security# # # matthew.mateo@mail.house.gov or andrew.tenorio@mail.house.gov |
