GOP courts Filipino vote, addresses Trump immigration concerns

The Filipino voting bloc could play a significant role in the Nov. 3 general elections, according to two CNMI Republican Party officials who are urging Filipino-American voters to support the GOP slate led by former Gov. Ralph DLG Torres and his running mate Benjamin Jones.

GOP national committeewoman Irene Holl and Republican official Fernando Estella made the pitch during the Pagtitipon Ng Kababayan gathering held last Oct. 20 at Holl's residence in Chalan Kiya.

Holl said Filipino voters have become a significant political constituency in the CNMI and could influence the outcome of closely contested races.

“We are a big voting bloc. Filipinos, we are, we have big, you know, like significant voting bloc, can swing, you know, win or lose a candidate,” she said.

She urged Filipino-American voters to participate in the elections and emphasized the importance of supporting the entire GOP slate, including legislative candidates.

Estella, meanwhile, cited Torres' previous efforts to secure federal relief from the CW-1 touchback requirement as a reason Filipino voters should consider supporting the former governor.

He said Torres' working relationship with President Donald Trump during his first administration helped address workforce issues affecting the CNMI.

In August 2020, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services modified the implementation of the touchback requirement, changing which CW-1 petitions were subject to the departure requirement. The policy change did not eliminate touchback.

Estella said maintaining ties with Washington would be important in addressing the CNMI's continuing workforce problems.

Holl was also asked how the local GOP reconciles its support for Trump with his administration's restrictive immigration policies, which have raised concerns among foreign workers and their families.

“No, we're not,” Holl said when asked whether Republicans were anti-immigrant.

She maintained that the CNMI Republican Party has different priorities from its mainland counterpart, particularly concerning foreign workers.

“My opinion about some things are different from their opinions because I'm an advocate of guest workers,” she said.

Holl stressed that immigration is primarily a federal responsibility, although the CNMI government can support efforts to change immigration policies.

“Immigration is not a local issue. Immigration is a federal issue,” she said.

She said Delegate Kimberlyn King-Hinds would have to lead efforts in Washington, D.C. to address immigration problems affecting CW-1 workers, with support from the local government.

Estella also highlighted the potential influence of younger Filipino-American voters, including U.S.-born children of immigrant families.

He said he helped organize two groups of young Filipino voters, including his 18-year-old daughter and her friends, to register in September after discussing the CNMI's economic difficulties with them.

According to Estella, approximately 40 to 45 young people participated in the registration effort.

Jones, who also attended the gathering, said Filipino residents are part of the CNMI community and are experiencing the same economic difficulties as other residents.

“This is home for them as well. This is our home together, and we've got to understand that we're here to help each other out,” he said.

Jones also expressed concern about the departure of skilled foreign workers under the touchback requirement, saying their absence could further hurt businesses already struggling with declining tourism.

The gathering was also intended to help organize Filipino community participation in a larger event scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 25.

Toward the end of the interview, Holl disclosed that the Torres-Jones ticket was awaiting a possible endorsement from Trump.

She said she had been communicating regularly with White House contacts and Republican National Committee officials about securing the president's support.

“My contact person inside the White House told me that the endorsement letter of President Trump is actually in the table of President Trump,” Holl said.

Holl said efforts were underway to obtain Trump's signature, although no endorsement had been announced as of Tuesday.

“So there is a pending endorsement waiting to be signed,” she said, adding that she hoped to receive it shortly.