DHS Suspends Visa-Free Travel Program for Chinese Nationals Visiting Northern Mariana Islands

The Trump administration is suspending a visa-free travel program for Chinese nationals visiting the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. island territory, after Republican lawmakers warned that it could enable birth tourism and create security risks.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin made the decision, which targets a program created under the Biden administration. It allowed prescreened Chinese nationals to stay in the territory for up to 14 days without obtaining a visa. In a notice, the Department of Homeland Security said the program could facilitate birth tourism, espionage and illegal onward travel to nearby Guam, a key hub for the U.S. military.

The move follows an April appeal from Republican Sens. Mike Lee of Utah, Rick Scott of Florida, John Cornyn of Texas and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana. They urged Mullin to end the program, arguing that it encouraged birth tourism and posed national security threats. Lee welcomed the decision on X. "America is not a nursery for the CCP to steal citizenship," he wrote, referring to the Chinese Communist Party, and thanked President Trump.

Rep. Chip Roy's office also praised the suspension. It said the Texas Republican and Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Wis., had raised concerns about the program in March, and that Roy was pleased the administration had "closed this dangerous loophole."

The program, formally called the Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program, was created in 2024 and took effect the following year. DHS said more than 3,000 Chinese nationals used it to enter the Northern Mariana Islands in fiscal year 2025. Those visitors were screened by Customs and Border Protection but did not need to obtain a visa through a U.S. consulate.

The suspension takes effect at 2 p.m. EDT on Oct. 30 and covers both new applicants and travelers who have already been approved. People currently in the territory under the program may complete their authorized stays, but will need a visa for future visits unless another lawful exception applies. DHS said the pause will remain while it evaluates the program with the secretaries of state and the interior.

Birth tourism refers to traveling to the United States mainly to give birth so a child can obtain American citizenship. Some travelers have concealed the purpose of their trips when applying for visas. The DHS notice said visa-exempt travel and reduced vetting "may lower barriers to this practice," and added that it can strain the islands' medical system. The notice did not say how many births were linked to travelers who entered through the program.

DHS also warned that visa-free travel could be used to gather intelligence near U.S. military sites. The Northern Mariana Islands are home to Tinian Air Base, while Guam hosts several military installations. The program did not allow visitors to travel to Guam or the U.S. mainland, but DHS pointed to earlier cases of Chinese nationals being smuggled by boat from the Northern Mariana Islands to Guam. Those cases involved earlier travel policies or other streamlined arrangements, but DHS said they showed a vulnerability the newer program had not eliminated.

The suspension comes amid a wider administration effort against birth tourism. A State Department task force launched Aug. 12 had revoked more than 750 visas tied to suspected birth tourism as of late August, according to the department. Spokesman Tommy Pigott said officials were working with international partners and law enforcement to identify travel patterns that could point to birth tourism networks, and that some networks help visitors hide the purpose of their trips and coach them on avoiding medical bills. The Northern Mariana Islands program is separate from the visitor visa process targeted by those revocations.