King-Hinds says tourism revival key; delegate also discusses EAD issue

With the CNMI economy continuing to struggle, Delegate Kimberlyn King-Hinds said reviving the tourism industry remains the territory’s most urgent priority even as federal concerns over accountability and immigration policies complicate recovery efforts.

King-Hinds, who returned to the Commonwealth while Congress is on break, told Marianas Press during an interview last March 10 at her Susupe office that restoring visitor arrivals is critical to generating government revenue and stabilizing businesses across the islands.

“In particular, how do we get our tourism industry back online so that we can start generating the much-needed revenue as a result of getting more customers into the CNMI as soon as possible,” she said.

She said her office continues to press federal officials in Washington, D.C., for solutions that would remove barriers preventing tourism from recovering.

“We’re making traction there. We’re getting some positive feedback from the administration, and I hope that within the next week or so we’ll have some clear guidance from the administration as to the direction that we need to take to be able to start chipping away at some of these barriers,” King-Hinds said.

The delegate acknowledged, however, that expectations for a federal financial bailout remain slim.

“I’ve always maintained that that’s a very hard ask to make,” she said, referring to requests for federal cash infusions to support CNMI government operations.

King-Hinds said the current mood in Washington, D.C., is focused on tightening spending and improving government efficiency.

“As we’re seeing across the federal government, this administration wants to right-size government, wants to see red tape removed, lessen the bureaucracy, but also incorporate a lot of modernization when we’re talking about the operations of the government,” she said.

Complicating the CNMI’s case for assistance are concerns in Washington, D.C. about financial accountability, particularly the territory’s delayed government audits.

“The reality with regards to that situation is that we only have one auditor serving the whole of Micronesia, and we are competing for the auditor’s time to be able to expedite the completion of these audits,” King-Hinds said.

She said the audits serve as proof to federal agencies of how the CNMI has spent federal funds.

“When you have the administration who’s focused on making sure that we are accountable for the use of federal funds, those audits obviously are very critical to that because it tells the government how we’ve been spending the money,” she said.

The absence of completed audits can make federal officials hesitant to approve additional funding, she added.

At the same time, tourism—the CNMI’s primary economic engine—is facing additional scrutiny in Washington, D.C., due to concerns over birth tourism involving Chinese visitors.

King-Hinds said federal policymakers continue to debate immigration policies affecting the islands, including proposals that could eliminate special visa carve-outs unique to the CNMI.

One measure introduced by Rep. Tom Tiffany seeks to standardize visa policies nationwide.

But King-Hinds said policies designed for mainland states may not work for isolated island jurisdictions.

“One-size-fits-all policies that may work in Wisconsin or in Florida do not work for remote, isolated communities like the CNMI,” she said.

She also defended the Electronic Visa System for Travel Authorization program, saying it helps screen travelers and deter abuse.

“As far as we’re seeing it, the program is working because it is weeding out folks who are not necessarily coming here for the right reasons,” King-Hinds said.

Immigration discussions became even more fluid following the departure of Kristi Noem, who had recently met with CNMI officials in Washington, D.C., to discuss issues including birth tourism.

“The work doesn’t change. The strategy might change in terms of how we approach these conversations, but the work doesn’t change,” King-Hinds said.

The delegate said her office is continuing outreach to federal agencies as new leadership transitions occur.

“This particular change in leadership at DHS should remind us of how fluid things are in D.C., and how things are constantly changing,” she said.

King-Hinds also addressed confusion surrounding employment authorization documents for holders of CNMI-only C-37 status.

“The only thing that we can do is follow the law and follow the guidance as issued by the department,” she said.

She urged residents experiencing delays with work permits or immigration paperwork to contact her office for assistance.

“If you or anybody that you know is experiencing a delay or having any issues, reach out to our office and the team will be more than happy to help you out,” King-Hinds said.

Despite the challenges facing the economy, the delegate pointed to several legislative developments she said could benefit residents.

One bill she introduced would direct the Department of Veterans Affairs to collect better data on veteran-owned small businesses in order to expand their access to federal contracting opportunities.

Another measure that has already passed the U.S. House of Representatives would allow students from the territories—including the CNMI and Guam—to qualify for in-state tuition at public universities across the United States.

“That made it out of markup, it passed on the House floor, and now it heads up to the Senate,” King-Hinds said.

“This is welcome relief for parents who have kids who are college-bound.”

King-Hinds said federal officials are also increasingly recognizing the connection between the CNMI’s economic stability and broader national security concerns in the Pacific.

“You can’t talk about national security without talking about economic stability,” she said.

Federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Defense, are now exploring how the territory’s economic health could affect military missions and regional strategy, she added.

“They’re trying to figure out how to ensure that businesses don’t keep shutting down and how to ensure that our economy doesn’t stay in this state of freefall,” King-Hinds said.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding federal policies and funding, she said her office will continue advocating for the CNMI in the nation’s capital.

“Things are constantly changing,” King-Hinds said. “You just have to learn to adapt and overcome and keep pushing forward, and that’s what we have been doing.”