Help Fight the Unjust Law: PL 15-108
This page exists for archival purposes. PL 15-108 is now
obsolete. It and all other aspects of CNMI law governing
entry, deportation, and employment of foreign labor in the CNMI
were preempted by Subtitle A of Tile VII of the Consolidated
Natural Resources Act of 2008, Pub. L. 110-229 (May 8, 2008), 122
Stat. 754, 853-67.
Federalization of immigration control in the CNMI, however, has
fallen far short of hopes and expectations. The Department
of Homeland Security (DHS) regretably modeled its transitional
worker program after the deeply flawed and failed CNMI system, the
CNMI failed (despite a formal protocol) to maintain a consistent
and coherent policy and approach to federalization, and did
nothing to seize the opportunities presented, and DHS Immigration
and Customs Enforcement (ICE) perceived all the tens of thousands
of aliens legally in the CNMI on the transition date as present in
the United States without admission and hence functionally
illegal. The result was largely arbitrary and capricious
removal practices, considerable unfairness and injustice, and a
heavy litigation burden for the Woodruff Law Office on behalf of
foreign nationals with little ability to pay.
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Our opponents -- those possessed of government power in the CNMI
(and their high-powered apologists) -- are engaged in a propaganda
campaign to hide the true character of PL 15-108 and have it
masquerade as a sensible and justified law. At the same
time, part and parcel with this effort, they are seeking to sow
fear and confusion among foreign workers in the CNMI about their
future immigration status in general, and in particular about the
legislation presently pending in the U.S. Senate to assume federal
control over immigration in the CNMI.
We need your help to increase public awareness of the legal
infirmities and oppressive character of this unjust law, PL
15-108, and to mount legal challenges to prevent it from being
enforced and implemented to make life even more difficult and
uncertain for the already economically disadvantaged and
politically disenfranchised foreign workers in the CNMI.
Help us expose the truth and fight in court for the rights and
protection of foreign workers in the CNMI. Help us pursue
fairness, human dignity, and social justice.
Donate to our PL 15-108 Legal
Action Fund. (link to the blog)
This button is now redirected to the WLO Public Interest Law Fund.
Funds received may be applied for legal fees, litigation costs, and
other expenses as determined by Stephen C. Woodruff in his sole
discretion, informed by consultation with interested parties
(including litigants and potential litigants). Funds may be
applied to defray the legal fees of individual clients who lack the
ability to pay and whose causes advance the common interests of
foreign workers in the CNMI. Some funds may be utilized for
lobbying. By donating, you agree that funds may be earned as
fees and accounted as revenue to said law offices or applied to
expenses to offset those costs on a nonrevenue basis. Revenues
received by the law offices are taxable to the law offices as
income. There is no tax
benefit to you from contributions to the PL 15-108 Legal Action Fund at this time.
Donor identity will be kept confidential unless you request public
acknowledgment.
Thank you for your help!
© 2005-2014 Stephen C. Woodruff - All Rights Reserved (except to
material copyrighted by others or in the public domain, to which
compilation copyright only is claimed)
Last updated: July 30,
2014
