The Trump administration is suspending a visa-free travel program for Chinese nationals visiting a U.S. island territory after Republican lawmakers warned it could facilitate birth tourism and pose national security risks.
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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.
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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 U.S. military.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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child → please → birth
Some travelers have hidden the purpose of their trip when applying for a visa.
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travelers → hide → visa
The program at issue was created in 2024 and took effect the following year.
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program → create → effect
More than 3,000 Chinese nationals used it to enter the Northern Mariana Islands in fiscal year 2025, according to DHS.
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nationals → use → DHS
Those travelers were screened by Customs and Border Protection, but did not have to obtain a visa through a U.S. consulate, the department said.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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notice → warn → practice
DHS also said birth tourism can strain the islands’ medical system.
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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.
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who → provide → Program
The department warned that visa-free travel could be exploited for intelligence gathering near U.S. military facilities.
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travel → warn → facilities
The Northern Mariana Islands are home to Tinian Air Base, while Guam hosts several military installations.
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Guam → host → installations
Although the program did not permit visitors to travel to Guam or the U.S. mainland, DHS cited previous cases involving Chinese nationals smuggled by boat from the Northern Mariana Islands to Guam.
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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.
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program → involve → that
The suspension comes as the Trump administration pursues a broader crackdown on birth tourism.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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visitors → say → bills
The Northern Mariana Islands program is separate from the visitor visa process targeted by those revocations.
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program → target → revocations
Fox News Digital's Peter D'Abrosca contributed to this report.
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D'Abrosca → contribute → report
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