The Trump administration is putting a visa-free entry program for Chinese visitors to a U.S. island territory on hold, following warnings from Republican lawmakers that the policy could enable birth tourism and create national security vulnerabilities.
The suspension, ordered by Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, affects a Biden-era arrangement that permitted pre-screened Chinese nationals to travel to the Northern Mariana Islands for stays of up to 14 days without first securing a visa.
In a notice outlining the move, the Department of Homeland Security pointed to concerns over birth tourism, possible espionage and unauthorized onward travel to nearby Guam, an important U.S. military hub.
The action followed an April request from Sens. Mike Lee, R-Utah, Rick Scott, R-Fla., John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Bill Cassidy, R-La., who called on Mullin to terminate the program. The senators said it could encourage birth tourism and threaten national security.
Lee praised the administration’s decision in a post on X.
“America is not a nursery for the CCP to steal citizenship,” Lee wrote, using an abbreviation for the Chinese Communist Party. “Thank you, President Trump!”
The office of Rep. Chip Roy also applauded the policy change, saying the Texas Republican and Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Wis., had flagged concerns about the arrangement in March.
“Rep. Roy is pleased to hear the Trump Admin closed this dangerous loophole,” the congressman’s office said on X.
Birth tourism refers to traveling to the United States primarily to give birth, with the goal of having the child receive American citizenship. Some visitors have concealed that purpose during the visa application process.
The disputed program was established in 2024 and became operational the next year. DHS said more than 3,000 Chinese nationals used the policy to enter the Northern Mariana Islands during fiscal year 2025.
Although Customs and Border Protection screened the travelers, they were not required to apply for visas through a U.S. consulate, according to the department.
The suspension will begin at 2 p.m. EDT on Oct. 30, covering both new applicants and travelers who had already received approval under the program.
People already in the territory through the program may remain until their authorized stay ends. Any future trip will require a visa unless the traveler qualifies under another legal exemption.
DHS said the pause will continue while it reviews the program in coordination with the secretaries of state and the interior.
The department said the visa-free policy could make it easier for Chinese nationals to travel to the territory for the purpose of giving birth.
“While birth tourism has long been an issue in the CNMI, the availability of visa-exempt travel and reduced vetting under EVS-TAP may lower barriers to this practice,” the notice says.
DHS also said birth tourism can strain the islands’ medical system. The notice did not provide a number of births linked to travelers who entered through the program, formally known as the Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program.
The department warned that visa-free travel could be exploited for intelligence gathering near USAlthough the program did not permit visitors to travel to Guam or the US.mainland, DHS cited previous cases involving Chinese nationals 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 that the newer program had not eliminated.
The suspension comes as the Trump administration pursues a broader crackdown on birth tourism. A State Department task force launched Aug. 12 had revoked more than 750 visas tied to suspected birth tourism activity as of late August, the department previously told Fox News Digital.
State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott told Fox News Digital that officials were working with international partners and law enforcement to identify travel patterns that could point to birth tourism networks.
Pigott said some networks help visitors conceal the purpose of their trips and then coach them on how to avoid paying medical bills.
The Northern Mariana Islands program is separate from the visitor visa process targeted by those revocations. military facilities. The Northern Mariana Islands are home to Tinian Air Base, while Guam hosts several military installations.
