Visa-free island travel ends for Chinese nationals on Oct. 30

The visa-free entry program for Chinese nationals visiting the Northern Mariana Islands stops at 2 p.m. EDT on Oct. 30.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin signed the order to suspend the policy. The program, known as the Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program, took effect in 2025 after being created in 2024. It allowed prescreened Chinese citizens to enter the island territory for up to 14 days without obtaining a visa from a U.S. consulate. Customs and Border Protection screened these travelers, but the waiver removed the standard consulate requirement. More than 3,000 Chinese nationals used this route to enter the Northern Mariana Islands during fiscal year 2025, according to department records.

The suspension applies to both new applicants and those already approved. Travelers currently in the territory can finish their authorized stays. However, they will need a visa for any future visits unless another lawful exception applies. DHS stated the pause remains in place while the department evaluates the program alongside the secretaries of state and the interior. The notice cited specific concerns about the policy's impact on national security and local resources.

Republican lawmakers pushed for the change earlier this year. Senators Mike Lee, Rick Scott, John Cornyn, and Bill Cassidy urged Mullin in April to end the program. They warned it encouraged birth tourism and posed security risks. Lee posted on X to celebrate the decision. He wrote, "America is not a nursery for the CCP to steal citizenship," referring to the Chinese Communist Party. He added, "Thank you, President Trump!" Rep. Chip Roy’s press office also welcomed the move. The Texas Republican and Rep. Tom Tiffany had raised concerns about the program in March. Roy’s office stated on X that he was pleased the administration closed what they called a dangerous loophole.

The department defined birth tourism as traveling to the United States primarily to give birth so the child becomes a U.S. citizen. The DHS notice argued that visa-exempt travel and reduced vetting under the program lowered barriers to this practice. It noted that birth tourism has long been an issue in the territory. The department said the practice can strain the islands’ medical system. The notice did not provide a specific number of births linked to travelers who entered through this program.

Security officials also pointed to intelligence gathering risks. The Northern Mariana Islands host Tinian Air Base, while nearby Guam holds several military installations. DHS warned that visa-free travel could be exploited for espionage near these facilities. The program did not permit visitors to travel to Guam or the U.S. mainland. However, the department cited previous cases where Chinese nationals were smuggled by boat from the Northern Mariana Islands to Guam. Those cases involved earlier travel policies or other streamlined arrangements. DHS said they showed a vulnerability that the newer program had not eliminated.

This action fits into a wider administrative effort to crack down on birth tourism. A State Department task force launched on Aug. 12 had revoked more than 750 visas tied to suspected birth tourism activity as of late August. State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott told Fox News Digital that officials are working with international partners and law enforcement. They are identifying travel patterns that point to birth tourism networks. Pigott said some networks help visitors conceal the purpose of their trips. He added that they coach travelers on how to avoid paying medical bills. The Northern Mariana Islands program is separate from the visitor visa process targeted by those revocations.