Full Breakdown
Trump Administration Suspends Visa-Free Travel Program for Chinese Nationals to the Northern Mariana Islands
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Suspension of the Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program
The Department of Homeland Security announced that, effective 2 p.m. Eastern time on October 30, the Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program (EVS-TAP) will be suspended. The decision, made by Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, ends a Biden-era policy that allowed pre-screened Chinese nationals to travel to the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) for up to 14 days without a visa. DHS cited concerns that the program could facilitate birth tourism, espionage, and illegal onward travel to nearby Guam, where U.S. military installations are located.
Background & Context
EVS-TAP was created under a 2024 rule and took effect in 2025 to boost tourism and business visits to the CNMI while providing a streamlined entry process for vetted Chinese travelers. The program replaced an earlier case-by-case visa-waiver system and required only Customs and Border Protection (CBP) screening rather than the more extensive consular review used for standard visitor visas.
Data & Statistics
- More than 3,000 Chinese nationals entered the CNMI through EVS-TAP in fiscal year 2025, according to DHS internal CBP records.
- The program did not permit travel to Guam or the U.S. mainland; it was limited to the CNMI.
- A State Department task force targeting birth-tourism networks reported revoking over 250,000 visas, while another source cited nearly 900 visas revoked within ten days of the task force’s formation.
Official Statements & Responses
- DHS notice: The agency warned that visa-free travel “may lower barriers” to birth tourism and could strain local medical resources. It also highlighted the risk that travelers might use the CNMI as a staging point for intelligence-gathering near U.S. military sites.
- DHS acknowledged that the suspension could hurt local businesses that rely on Chinese visitors and cause financial loss for travelers who had already secured authorization, but asserted that security considerations outweigh those costs.
Criticism & Opposition
Republican senators Mike Lee, Rick Scott (R-FL), John Cornyn (R-TX), and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) sent a letter on April 22 urging DHS to end the program, arguing that it encouraged birth tourism and posed national-security risks. Their criticism was echoed by other Republican officials who described the policy as a “dangerous loophole.” The senators welcomed the suspension as a step to protect U.S. citizenship and military installations.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Visa revocation numbers differ sharply between sources (over 250,000 vs. nearly 900), and the article provides no resolution.
- DHS did not disclose the number of births directly linked to EVS-TAP travelers, leaving the scale of the alleged “birth-tourism” impact unclear.
- No specific timeline has been set for the inter-agency review, and the notice does not indicate when a decision on the program’s future will be made.
What’s Next
The suspension will remain in place while DHS conducts a review with the State and Interior departments. During this period, any Chinese national seeking to visit the CNMI must obtain a standard nonimmigrant visa unless another lawful exception applies. The department has not provided a target date for completing the review, and future policy decisions will depend on the outcome of that assessment.