US Suspends Visa-Free Travel for Chinese Nationals to Northern Mariana Islands

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has suspended a visa-free travel program that allowed Chinese nationals to visit the U.S. territory of the Northern Mariana Islands, citing concerns over birth tourism and national security. The decision, announced by Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, targets a program established during the Biden administration that permitted pre-screened Chinese visitors to stay for up to 14 days without a visa.

In a notice detailing the suspension, DHS highlighted worries that the program could facilitate birth tourism, espionage, and illegal onward travel to nearby Guam, a critical U.S. military hub. This action follows a recommendation from Republican senators Mike Lee, Rick Scott, John Cornyn, and Bill Cassidy, who had urged Mullin in April to terminate the program due to similar concerns.

Senator Mike Lee celebrated the decision on social media, stating, "America is not a nursery for the CCP to steal citizenship." He thanked President Trump for the action. A spokesperson for Representative Chip Roy also expressed satisfaction, noting that Roy and Representative Tom Tiffany had raised concerns about the program earlier in the year.

Birth tourism involves individuals traveling to a country primarily to give birth, with the intention of their child obtaining citizenship. The program at issue, known as the Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program (EVS-TAP), was initiated in 2024 and implemented the following year. According to DHS, over 3,000 Chinese nationals utilized this program in fiscal year 2025. While these travelers underwent screening by Customs and Border Protection, they were not required to obtain a visa through a U.S. consulate.

The suspension is scheduled to take effect on October 30 and will affect both new applicants and those whose travel had already been approved. Individuals currently in the Northern Mariana Islands under the program will be allowed to complete their authorized stays but will require a visa for future visits, unless another exception applies. DHS stated that the suspension will remain in place while the program undergoes evaluation in coordination with the Secretaries of State and the Interior.

The DHS notice indicated that the program could lower the barriers for birth tourism, potentially straining the islands' medical resources. The department did not provide specific numbers of births attributed to travelers using the program. Furthermore, DHS expressed concerns that the visa-free travel arrangement could be exploited for intelligence gathering, especially given the proximity of the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam to U.S. military installations. Although the program did not explicitly permit travel to Guam or the U.S. mainland, DHS referenced past incidents of Chinese nationals being smuggled by boat from the Northern Mariana Islands to Guam, suggesting a persistent vulnerability.

This measure aligns with broader efforts by the Trump administration to combat birth tourism. A State Department task force, established in August, had reportedly revoked over 750 visas associated with suspected birth tourism activities by late August. State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott noted that officials are collaborating with international partners and law enforcement to identify travel patterns indicative of birth tourism networks, some of which allegedly assist visitors in concealing their travel intentions and evading medical expenses.