DHS suspends visa-free travel program for Chinese nationals amid birth tourism, security concerns
asserted
DHS → suspend → tourism
The Trump administration is suspending a visa-free travel program for Chinese nationals visiting a US island territory after Republican lawmakers warned it could facilitate birth tourism and pose national security risks.
uncertain
it → suspend → risks
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin’s decision targets a Biden-era program that allowed prescreened Chinese nationals to visit the Northern Mariana Islands for up to 14 days without a visa.
asserted
nationals → target → visa
In a notice announcing the decision, the Department of Homeland Security cited concerns that the program could facilitate birth tourism, espionage and illegal onward travel to nearby Guam, a key hub for the US military.
uncertain
program → announce → military
The decision comes after senators Mike Lee, R-Utah, Rick Scott, R-Fla., John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Bill Cassidy, R-La., urged Mullin in April to end the program, warning that it encouraged birth tourism and posed national security risks.
asserted
it → come → risks
Lee celebrated the decision in a post on X.
“America is not a nursery for the CCP to steal citizenship,” Lee wrote, referring to the Chinese Communist Party.
asserted
Lee → celebrate → Party
Rep. Chip Roy’s press office also welcomed the move, saying the Texas Republican and Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Wis., had raised concerns about the program in March.
asserted
Republican → welcome → March
“Rep. Roy is pleased to hear the Trump Admin closed this dangerous loophole,” his office wrote on X.
Birth tourism is when someone travels to the United States primarily to give birth so their child can become an American citizen.
asserted
child → please → birth
Some travelers have hidden the purpose of their trip when applying for a visa.
asserted
travelers → hide → visa
The program at issue was created in 2024 and took effect the following year.
asserted
program → create → effect
More than 3,000 Chinese nationals used it to enter the Northern Mariana Islands in fiscal year 2025, according to DHS.
uncertain
nationals → use → DHS
Those travelers were screened by Customs and Border Protection, but did not have to obtain a visa through a US consulate, the department said.
asserted
department → screen → consulate
The suspension is set to take effect at 2 p.m. EDT on Oct. 30 and will apply to both new applicants and travelers who have already been approved.
asserted
who → set → applicants
Those already in the territory under the program may finish their authorized stays but will need a visa for future visits unless another lawful exception applies.
uncertain
exception → finish → visits
DHS said the suspension will remain in place while the department evaluates the program with the secretaries of state and the interior.
asserted
department → say → state
The department warned that the program could make it easier for Chinese nationals to travel to the territory to give 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.
uncertain
notice → warn → practice
DHS also said birth tourism can strain the islands’ medical system.
asserted
tourism → say → 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.
asserted
who → provide → Program
The department warned that visa-free travel could be exploited for intelligence gathering near USAlthough
uncertain
travel → warn → gathering
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.
asserted
DHS → permit → 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.
asserted
program → involve → that
The suspension comes as the Trump administration pursues a broader crackdown on birth tourism.
asserted
administration → come → 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.
asserted
department → launch → 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.
uncertain
that → tell → networks
Pigott said some networks help visitors conceal the purpose of their trips and then coach them on how to avoid paying medical bills.
asserted
visitors → say → bills
The Northern Mariana Islands program is separate from the visitor visa process targeted by those revocations.
asserted
program → target → revocations
The Northern Mariana Islands are home to Tinian Air Base, while Guam hosts several military installations.
asserted
Guam → host → installations
The Aporia
