Trump administration halts Biden-era travel program allowing Chinese citizens to enter the Northern Mariana Islands without visas, citing espionage concerns, birth tourism and immigration enforcement risks.
By Lucretia Hughes
WASHINGTON — Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has ordered the suspension of a Biden-era program allowing Chinese nationals to enter a U.S. territory in the western Pacific without obtaining traditional visas, citing national security concerns, potential espionage and risks involving immigration enforcement.
The Department of Homeland Security announced the suspension of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Economic Vitality and Security Travel Authorization Program, known as EVS-TAP, in a notice published Tuesday in the Federal Register.
The suspension takes effect Friday, Oct. 30, at 2 p.m. Eastern time.
The program allowed eligible Chinese nationals to travel to the Northern Mariana Islands for business or tourism for up to 14 days without obtaining a visa from a U.S. embassy or consulate.
The territory includes Saipan, Tinian and Rota, islands located in the western Pacific near Guam, where the United States maintains significant military installations.
According to DHS, more than 3,000 Chinese nationals entered the territory through the program during fiscal year 2025.
Federal officials determined that continuing the arrangement presented unacceptable national security, immigration and law enforcement risks.
Biden-Era Program Allowed Visa-Free Entry
The EVS-TAP program was established under the Biden administration in 2024 and became operational Feb. 20, 2025.
It replaced an earlier policy that permitted certain Chinese nationals to enter the Northern Mariana Islands through discretionary parole.
Under EVS-TAP, eligible travelers were required to obtain electronic travel authorization and undergo screening by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
However, participants were not required to complete the traditional consular visa application process, which can include interviews, fingerprints and additional security screening.
The authorization was restricted to the Northern Mariana Islands and did not permit travelers to enter Guam, the continental United States or other American territories.
DHS now argues that the program’s security risks outweigh its economic benefits.
In its official notice, the department stated that evolving security threats, combined with the number of Chinese nationals entering through the program, created significant concerns for federal authorities.
The suspension applies to new applicants and previously approved travelers.
Chinese nationals already legally present in the Northern Mariana Islands under the program may complete their authorized stays.
Future travelers generally must obtain appropriate U.S. visas unless another lawful exception applies.
National Security and Chinese Espionage Concerns
The Northern Mariana Islands occupy a strategically important location in the Pacific.
Nearby Guam hosts major U.S. military facilities, including Andersen Air Force Base and Naval Base Guam.
The Pentagon has also been restoring military infrastructure on Tinian as part of broader efforts to strengthen American defense capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region.
DHS cited concerns that visa-exempt travel could create opportunities for intelligence gathering near sensitive military installations.
Federal officials also referenced previous cases involving Chinese nationals traveling illegally by boat between the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam.
Those incidents raised concerns about unauthorized movement between U.S. territories.
However, the department has not publicly established that individuals admitted specifically through EVS-TAP engaged in espionage.
The suspension is a preventive security measure based on risks identified by federal officials rather than a finding that all Chinese visitors pose security threats.
Birth Tourism Raises Additional Concerns
Another issue cited by federal officials and Republican lawmakers involves birth tourism.
Birth tourism generally refers to foreign nationals traveling to another country primarily to give birth so their children can obtain citizenship under that country’s laws.
The Northern Mariana Islands have previously attracted attention over foreign visitors traveling to the territory to give birth.
Under the longstanding interpretation of the 14th Amendment, children born in U.S. territories covered by federal citizenship law generally acquire American citizenship at birth, subject to applicable legal exceptions.
Republican lawmakers have argued that allowing Chinese nationals to enter without traditional visas creates opportunities to exploit those citizenship provisions.
However, historical birth tourism concerns predate the implementation of EVS-TAP.
Figures reported from Saipan’s hospital show that births to tourists declined from 581 in 2018 to 58 in 2024.
DHS has not publicly identified how many births, if any, involved travelers admitted through the program after its implementation in February 2025.
Sen. Mike Lee Praises Mullin’s Decision
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, welcomed the suspension and credited Mullin with responding to concerns raised by Republican lawmakers.
In a social media statement Monday, Lee said the administration had closed what he described as a Biden-era loophole involving Chinese birth tourism.
Lee and fellow Republican Sens. John Cornyn of Texas, Rick Scott of Florida and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana had previously urged federal officials to terminate the arrangement.
Their concerns centered on birth tourism, national security and the possibility that Chinese nationals could use the Northern Mariana Islands as a pathway to other U.S. territories.
Lee characterized the suspension as a victory for immigration enforcement and national security.
The administration’s action follows broader efforts to increase scrutiny of foreign travel and strengthen immigration enforcement procedures.
Northern Mariana Islands Officials Warn of Economic Consequences
Although the suspension has received support from Republican lawmakers, officials in the Northern Mariana Islands have expressed concerns about its potential impact on tourism.
The territory depends heavily on international visitors, particularly travelers from Asian markets.
Chinese tourists have historically represented a significant portion of visitors to Saipan and surrounding islands.
According to tourism figures cited in recent reporting, Chinese visitors accounted for approximately 32% of arrivals in August 2026.
Republican congressional delegate Kimberlyn King-Hinds has warned that a prolonged suspension could harm local businesses, workers and airline operations.
King-Hinds said she contacted the White House and DHS to discuss the decision and possible solutions.
Her office emphasized that the program has been suspended rather than permanently terminated.
Tourism representatives have also raised concerns that reduced Chinese visitor traffic could threaten airline connections serving the territory.
Those connections are important not only to Chinese travelers but also to visitors arriving through regional aviation hubs.
DHS acknowledged the potential economic consequences in its Federal Register notice.
Nevertheless, the department concluded that the identified security and immigration enforcement concerns outweighed those interests.
Suspension Does Not Ban Chinese Nationals From Visiting
The administration’s decision does not prohibit Chinese nationals from visiting the Northern Mariana Islands.
Instead, it ends their ability to use EVS-TAP to enter without obtaining a traditional U.S. visa.
Eligible Chinese citizens may still apply for appropriate nonimmigrant visas through U.S. diplomatic facilities.
The suspension also does not reinstate the earlier parole policy that ended in February 2025.
DHS will review the program in consultation with the Department of State and Department of the Interior.
Federal officials have not announced a deadline for completing that review or determined whether the visa-free arrangement will eventually resume.
U.S. Security and Immigration Enforcement Take Priority
The decision comes as the United States continues strengthening its military posture in the Pacific amid strategic competition with China.
The Northern Mariana Islands and Guam are important to American defense planning because of their proximity to potential areas of conflict in the Indo-Pacific.
Federal officials argue that travel authorization programs must account for intelligence risks, immigration enforcement concerns and the protection of sensitive military facilities.
Local leaders, meanwhile, maintain that legitimate tourism and economic development should remain part of the federal government’s considerations.
The dispute illustrates the challenges of balancing national security responsibilities with the economic needs of U.S. territories.
For now, the Trump administration has determined that Chinese nationals seeking short-term entry to the Northern Mariana Islands should generally undergo the standard visa process.
Beginning Oct. 30, the Biden-era visa-free travel arrangement will be suspended, restoring traditional visa requirements for Chinese visitors who previously qualified under EVS-TAP.
The Department of Homeland Security will determine whether additional safeguards could eventually allow the program to resume.
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