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. 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. 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.
BIRTH TOURISM FIGHT SHIFTS TO US ‘TROPICAL MATERNITY WARD’ WITH HISTORY OF CHINESE EXPLOITATION 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. Lee celebrated the decision in a post on X. BIRTH TOURISM CRACKDOWN EXPANDS AS HOUSE CHAIRMAN RAISES CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY CASE "America is not a nursery for the CCP to steal citizenship," Lee wrote, referring to the Chinese Communist Party.
"Thank you, President Trump!" 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.
GOP FIREBRAND TARGETS BOOMING BUSINESS LETTING FOREIGNERS EXPLOIT US CITIZENSHIP LAWS "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.
Some travelers have hidden the purpose of their trip when applying for a visa. FIRST ON FOX: RUBIO RAMPS UP BIRTH TOURISM CRACKDOWN HOURS BEFORE XI TOUCHES DOWN IN US The program at issue was created in 2024 and took effect the following year. More than 3,000 Chinese nationals used it to enter the Northern Mariana Islands in fiscal year 2025, according to 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. EXCLUSIVE: STATE DEPARTMENT REVOKES OVER 250,000 VISAS IN BROAD IMMIGRATION VETTING CRACKDOWN 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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