Public Law 116–24  116th Congress  PUBLIC LAW 116–24—JUNE 25, 2019  133 STAT. 977  June 25, 2019  [H.R. 559]  48 USC 1801  note.  Northern  Mariana Islands  Long-Term Legal  Residents Relief  Act.  To amend section 6 of the Joint Resolution entitled ‘‘A Joint Resolution to approve  the Covenant To Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands  in Political Union with the United States of America, and for other purposes’’.  An Act  Time periods.  Effective dates.  Deadline.  SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.  SEC. 2. LONG-TERM LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF  THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS.  Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of  the United States of America in Congress assembled,  This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Northern Mariana Islands Long-  Term Legal Residents Relief Act’’.  Section 6(e) of the Joint Resolution entitled ‘‘A Joint Resolution  to approve the Covenant To Establish a Commonwealth of the  Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States  of America, and for other purposes’’, approved March 24, 1976  (48 U.S.C. 1806), is amended by adding at the end the following:  ‘‘(6) SPECIAL PROVISION REGARDING LONG-TERM RESIDENTS  OF THE COMMONWEALTH.—  ‘‘(A) CNMI RESIDENT STATUS.—An alien described in  subparagraph (B) may, upon the application of the alien,  be admitted in CNMI Resident status to the Common- wealth subject to the following rules:  ‘‘(i) The alien shall be treated as an alien lawfully  admitted to the Commonwealth only, including permit- ting entry to and exit from the Commonwealth, until  the earlier of the date on which—  ‘‘(I) the alien ceases to reside in the Common- wealth; or  ‘‘(II) the alien’s status is adjusted under sec- tion 245 of the Immigration and Nationality Act  (8 U.S.C. 1255) to that of an alien lawfully  admitted for permanent residence in accordance  with all applicable eligibility requirements.  ‘‘(ii) The Secretary of Homeland Security—  ‘‘(I) shall establish a process for such alien  to apply for CNMI Resident status during the 180-  day period beginning on a date determined by  the Secretary but not later than the first day of  the sixth month after the date of the enactment  of this paragraph; and  ‘‘(II) may, in the Secretary’s discretion,  authorize deferred action or parole, as appropriate,  with work authorization, for such alien beginning 