DHS halts visa-free entry for Chinese nationals to Northern Mariana Islands

The Department of Homeland Security will suspend a visa-free travel program for Chinese nationals visiting the Northern Mariana Islands starting at 2 p.m. EDT on Oct. 30. The move ends a policy that allowed prescreened travelers to visit the territory for up to 14 days without a visa. The program, known as the Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program, was created in 2024 and began operating in 2025.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin announced the decision in a notice citing specific risks. DHS stated the program could facilitate birth tourism, espionage, and illegal travel to nearby Guam. The department noted that while travelers were screened by Customs and Border Protection, they did not need to obtain a visa through a U.S. consulate. More than 3,000 Chinese nationals used the program to enter the Northern Mariana Islands in fiscal year 2025.

The suspension follows months of pressure from Republican lawmakers. In April, Sens. Mike Lee of Utah, Rick Scott of Florida, John Cornyn of Texas, and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana urged Mullin to end the program. They warned it encouraged birth tourism and posed national security risks. Reps. Chip Roy of Texas and Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin raised similar concerns in March. Lee praised the decision on social media, writing that America is not a nursery for the Chinese Communist Party to steal citizenship.

Travelers already in the territory may finish their authorized stays. They will need a visa for future visits unless another lawful exception applies. The suspension applies to both new applicants and those already approved. DHS said it will evaluate the program alongside the secretaries of state and the interior before deciding on its final status.

The notice linked visa-free travel to potential intelligence gathering near U.S. military facilities. The Northern Mariana Islands are home to Tinian Air Base, while Guam hosts several military installations. DHS cited previous cases where Chinese nationals were smuggled by boat from the territory to Guam. The department said these cases showed a vulnerability that the newer program had not eliminated. The notice did not provide a specific number of births linked to travelers who entered through the program.

This action is part of a wider administrative effort to curb birth tourism. A State Department task force launched on Aug. 12 had revoked more than 750 visas tied to suspected birth tourism activity by late August. State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said officials are working with international partners and law enforcement to identify travel patterns. He noted that some networks help visitors conceal their purpose and coach them on avoiding medical bills.