Homeland Security to End Visa Waiver for Chinese Visitors to Northern Mariana Islands Oct. 30

The Department of Homeland Security will stop allowing Chinese nationals to enter the Northern Mariana Islands without a visa, beginning 2 p.m. EDT on Oct. 30. The suspension covers both new applications and travelers who have already received approval under the Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin authorized the pause. The program, created in 2024 and launched the following year, let screened Chinese citizens visit the U.S. territory for up to 14 days without obtaining a visa from an American consulate. Customs and Border Protection processed the travelers, but no consular interview was required.

The department tied its decision to three concerns: birth tourism, intelligence collection near military sites, and movement onward to Guam. The notice states that visa-exempt travel and reduced vetting under the program may lower barriers to giving birth on the islands. It also warns that travel could be used to gather intelligence near installations, noting that Tinian Air Base sits in the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam hosts several military facilities.

DHS said it has documented cases of Chinese nationals moved by boat from the Northern Mariana Islands to Guam. Those episodes occurred under earlier travel policies or other streamlined arrangements, and the department said they revealed a weakness the newer program did not close. The program itself never permitted travel to Guam or the U.S. mainland.

The suspension follows a request from four Republican senators. Mike Lee of Utah, Rick Scott of Florida, John Cornyn of Texas and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana wrote to Mullin in April asking him to end the program, citing birth tourism and national security risks. Lee posted on X after the decision: "America is not a nursery for the CCP to steal citizenship. Thank you, President Trump!"

Rep. Chip Roy's office also welcomed the move. The Texas Republican and Rep. Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin raised concerns about the program in March, according to Roy's press office, which wrote that Roy was pleased the administration had closed the loophole. DHS did not say how many births were linked to travelers who entered through the program.

People already in the territory under the program may finish their authorized stays. Future visits will require a visa unless another lawful exception applies. The suspension stays in place while DHS reviews the program with the State Department and the Interior Department.

The Northern Mariana Islands program operates separately from the visitor visa process the State Department has been targeting. A task force launched Aug. 12 had revoked more than 750 visas connected to suspected birth tourism by late August, the department said. State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said officials work with international partners and law enforcement to spot travel patterns that may indicate birth tourism networks, some of which help visitors conceal trip purposes and then coach them on avoiding medical bills.