Homeland Security Suspends Visa-Free Travel for Chinese Nationals
Secretary Markwayne Mullin suspended a visa-free travel program for Chinese nationals to the Northern Mariana Islands, citing national security risks and birth tourism.
Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin suspended the Economic Vitality and Security Travel Authorization Program (EVS-TAP), a Biden-era initiative that allowed prescreened Chinese nationals to visit the Northern Mariana Islands for up to 14 days without a visa. The suspension, effective October 30, 2026, requires future visitors to obtain a standard nonimmigrant visa.
The decision follows an April 22 letter from Senators Mike Lee, Rick Scott, John Cornyn, and Bill Cassidy, who argued the program facilitated birth tourism and posed security risks. The Department of Homeland Security determined the program created unacceptable security and law enforcement risks, including potential espionage targeting U.S. military installations and human smuggling from Saipan to Guam. Officials also noted that the program strained the territory's medical infrastructure and could enable money laundering and labor abuses.
Over 3,000 Chinese nationals used the program in fiscal year 2025. While the department acknowledged the potential negative economic impact on local businesses dependent on Chinese tourism, it stated that national security concerns outweighed these interests. The suspension applies to new and active applications, though individuals already legally present in the territory may remain until their authorized stay expires. This move aligns with a broader Trump administration crackdown on birth tourism, which includes a State Department task force that has revoked hundreds of visas linked to suspected birth tourism networks.
