CNMI Del. Kimberlyn King-Hinds has formally requested that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security waive a newly imposed $100,000 fee on H-1B visa petitions for the Commonwealth, arguing the charge threatens essential services and regional stability.
In a letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, King-Hinds said the fee—authorized under President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at protecting American jobs—fails to account for the CNMI’s distinct economic and workforce conditions.
She noted that 22% of H-1B approvals in the CNMI support healthcare workers and 15% support utility services—roles she described as critical to public health and safety.
King-Hinds cited Section 1(c) of the president’s proclamation as a legal basis for a territorial exemption, arguing it would be consistent with existing law and national security safeguards.
“Territories like the CNMI face chronic workforce shortages that jeopardize both local stability and broader U.S. interests in the Pacific,” she said.
According to DHS data, all five U.S. territories combined received just 425 H-1B approvals in fiscal year 2025—less than 1% of California’s total.
King-Hinds warned that without access to skilled foreign labor, essential services such as healthcare and utilities could be compromised, endangering residents and undermining U.S. strategic objectives in the region.
She also pointed to existing immigration statutes, which allow for territorial flexibility, and referenced the CNMI-Only Transitional Worker program established in 2008 as evidence of Congress’s recognition of the islands’ unique labor needs.
