DHS Shuts Down Major Chinese Birth Tourism Loophole in US Pacific Territory
The Department of Homeland Security has ordered the suspension of a Biden-era, visa-free travel program that the Trump administration has alleged that Chinese nationals exploited as a loophole to facilitate birth tourism.
The Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program (EVS-TAP) allowed pre-screened Chinese nationals to visit the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands without a traditional visa, according to Fox News.
BREAKING: DHS announces via federal register that Secretary Mullin is closing a Biden-era loophole that allowed Chinese nationals to travel to the Northern Mariana Islands without a visa for 14 days, which four GOP Senators alleged was facilitating Chinese birth tourism…
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) October 26, 2026
In a notice published to the Federal Register Tuesday, DHS wrote that the program, launched by the Biden administration, created a pathway for Chinese nationals to “secure U.S. citizenship” despite having no ties to America.
“EVS-TAP may create immigration enforcement challenges by aliens who seek to exploit EVS-TAP to engage in birth tourism and secure U.S. citizenship for children with no lasting ties to the United States,” the notice read.
“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 continued.
CNMI is short for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Signing you in…
Please keep this page open. The results will appear here.
Check your email to count your vote
We sent a confirmation link to .
Click Confirm Your Vote in that email to count your vote and unlock the results.
Your vote has not been counted yet. If the email hasn't arrived, check your spam or junk folder.
The suspension of EVS-TAP will take effect at 2 p.m. Eastern Time Friday and apply to both “potential new applicants” and “previously approved travelers with an existing EVS-TAP travel authorization,” according to DHS.
Meanwhile, Chinese nationals who’ve already been admitted under the program and who are “legally present in the CNMI on the effective date of this notice will be permitted to remain for their current authorized period of stay.”
“However, these travelers will need to obtain a visa for any future travel to the CNMI,” DHS noted.
DHS’s decision to end the program comes after four top Republican senators wrote a letter to Homeland Security Secretary MarkWayne Mullin in April, urging the department to shutter it.
NEW: Four GOP Senators, @BasedMikeLee, @JohnCornyn, @SenRickScott, & @BillCassidy, have penned a letter to DHS Secretary Mullin, urging him to close a Biden era “birth tourism” loophole that allows Chinese nationals to visit the Northern Mariana Islands for 14 days without a visa, which they say is being exploited by the Chinese due to birthright citizenship.
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) April 22, 2026
In their letter, the senators referred to EVS-TAP as a “loophole” and also cited the threat of birth tourism.
“In 2024, the Biden Administration created this loophole, formally known as the CNMI Economic Vitality and Security Travel Authorization Program (EVS-TAP), as a restricted subprogram of the G-CNMI Visa Waiver Program,” they wrote.
“Continuing the Biden-era policy of allowing PRC citizens unchecked access to CNMI threatens America’s national security and encourages illegal drug trafficking and birth tourism,” the senators added.
The senators responded to DHS’s Tuesday announcement by publishing posts to social media celebrating the department’s decision and thanking President Donald Trump.
🚨 🚨 🚨 🚨
I’m very pleased to report that @SecMullinDHS at @DHSgov just CLOSED Joe Biden’s loophole for Chinese birth tourism for which we sounded the alarm earlier this year.
America is not a nursery for the CCP to steal citizenship.
Thank you, President Trump!
— Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) October 26, 2026
Though Republican Texas Rep. Chip Roy didn’t write or sign the April letter, his office also responded to DHS’s announcement by noting in a post to X that he’d personally sounded the alarm as early as March.
“Reps. Roy and @RepTiffany [Tom Tiffany] sounded the alarm on this abuse back in March,” the post read.
Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. Advertise Today.
Truth and Accuracy
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.
