DHS suspends visa-free travel for Chinese nationals to Northern Mariana Islands

Right · 2The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has suspended a program that allowed prescreened Chinese nationals to visit the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. island territory, for up to 14 days without a visa. 1 2 Right · 2DHS published the notice in the Federal Register on Monday, 26 October; the decision was attributed to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. 2 1 Right · 1The notice cited concerns that the program could facilitate birth tourism, espionage and illegal onward travel to nearby Guam, a key U.S. military hub. 1

Right · 1Breitbart reported that the notice does not give a date for completing DHS's review, and that the program covered business or tourism travel, generally for up to 14 days. 3 Right · 1The program, formally the Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program (EVS-TAP), was created in 2024 and took effect the following year; DHS said more than 3,000 Chinese nationals used it to enter the islands in fiscal year 2025, screened by Customs and Border Protection but without obtaining a visa from a U.S. consulate. 1 Right · 1The suspension takes effect at 2 p.m. EDT on 30 October and applies to new applicants and those already approved; people already in the territory may finish their authorized stays but will need a visa for future visits unless another lawful exception applies. DHS said it will keep the suspension in place while it evaluates the program with the secretaries of state and the interior. 1

Right · 1Fox News reported that the notice said visa-exempt travel and reduced vetting "may lower barriers" to birth tourism and can strain the islands' medical system, but gave no number of births linked to travelers who used the program. 1 Right · 1Fox News also reported that the program did not permit travel to Guam or the U.S. mainland, and that the smuggling cases DHS cited involved earlier travel policies or other streamlined arrangements, though DHS said they showed a vulnerability the newer program had not eliminated. 1 Right · 2Breitbart reported that DHS cited two cases of Chinese nationals sentenced for smuggling other Chinese nationals from the Northern Mariana Islands to Guam, with most of those in the second case later found in or near sensitive military installations; the incidents occurred before the program was implemented. Fox said the Northern Mariana Islands are home to Tinian Air Base. 3 1

Right · 2Republican senators Mike Lee, Rick Scott, John Cornyn and Bill Cassidy had urged Mullin in April to end the program; Lee welcomed the move on X, saying "America is not a nursery for the CCP to steal citizenship." Rep. Chip Roy's office said he and Rep. Tom Tiffany had raised concerns in March. 1 2 Right · 1Breitbart added that the senators' April 22 letter was also addressed to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and called the program a benefit that should not go to "a recalcitrant country like Communist China"; it also urged ending Hong Kong's participation in the wider G-CNMI visa waiver program. 3 Right · 2The move is part of a wider administration push against birth tourism: a State Department task force launched 12 August had revoked more than 750 visas tied to suspected birth tourism as of late August, a new State Department visa restriction policy targets those who profit from the industry, and President Trump signed an August order directing rules and guidance to stop it. U.S. law already bars visas obtained primarily to give birth in the U.S. for citizenship. Fox said the Northern Mariana Islands program is separate from the visitor visa process targeted by those revocations. 1 2