Trump’s DHS Suspends Visa-Free Travel for Chinese Nationals Over Security Concerns
DHS (Department of Homeland Security) has suspended a visa-free travel program for Chinese nationals heading to the Northern Mariana Islands. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin made the decision, citing risks to national security and law enforcement. The program, known as EVS-TAP, let prescreened travelers visit the U.S. territory without first securing a visa. The suspension takes effect at 2 p.m. EDT on Oct. 30, following Federal Register publication. It covers both new applicants and travelers who already hold approved authorizations.
EVS-TAP, formally the Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program, was created in 2024. It became operational on Feb. 20, 2025, replacing an earlier parole policy for Chinese visitors. Travelers could stay up to 14 days, and they could not continue to Guam or the mainland. More than 3,000 Chinese nationals entered the islands through the program in fiscal year 2025. Customs and Border Protection vetted them, rather than consular officers at a U.S. embassy or consulate.
Espionage, Smuggling and Birth Tourism: The Risks Behind the Suspension
DHS argues that the program could be exploited for espionage near sensitive American military sites. The islands host Tinian Air Base, and nearby Guam houses several other installations. Officials also point to smuggling cases in which Chinese nationals traveled illegally from the islands to Guam. Prosecutors sentenced smugglers in March 2024 and February 2025, in cases involving nine and seven other people. Those cases predate the program, but DHS says they reveal a lingering vulnerability that visa-free entry did not remove.
Birth tourism is another concern, since visa-free entry may lower barriers for travelers seeking U.S. citizenship for children. DHS adds that such births can strain the islands’ medical system. However, the notice did not say how many births were tied to the program. Lawmakers are also acting, as Senator Tim Scott has introduced a bill to curb the practice. His proposal would tighten scrutiny of pregnant visa applicants, yet it would not end birthright citizenship. In addition, officials pointed to the territory’s history with Chinese-linked money laundering and labor abuses. A Saipan casino once reported more than $2 billion in monthly VIP bets before its executives were indicted.
What Changes for Travelers and What Comes Next for the Program
Under the suspension, DHS will stop accepting new applications and will cancel existing travel authorizations. Travelers already in the territory may finish their authorized stays, but future trips will require a visa. Genuine business and leisure visitors can still apply for a standard nonimmigrant visa. The suspension does not revive the earlier parole policy, which ended in February 2025. DHS will review the program with the secretaries of state and the interior, with no timeline announced. Senators Mike Lee, Rick Scott, John Cornyn and Bill Cassidy had urged an end to the program in April. Tim Scott’s bill, in the Senate Judiciary Committee, also targets businesses that profit from birth tourism.
President Trump also signed an August 6 order directing State and Homeland Security to act against visa abuse. Those efforts continue after the Supreme Court struck down Trump’s birthright citizenship limits on June 30. Ultimately, the move shows Washington is tightening scrutiny of Chinese travel to strategically sensitive Pacific territories. DHS acknowledged that island businesses and travelers may face losses, but said security risks outweigh them. The outcome of the review will determine whether the program returns, changes or disappears for good. Combined with broader visa revocations tied to birth tourism, it points to a wider immigration crackdown. For the islands, the challenge will be balancing tourism income against its security priorities
Web resources on CNMI EVS-TAP program suspension by DHS 2026
1. Fox News : DHS suspends visa-free travel program for Chinese nationals amid birth tourism, security concerns.
2. Envoy Global : DHS Suspends Visa-Free Travel Program for Chinese Nationals Visiting CNMI.
3. The Epoch Times : DHS Suspends Visa-Free Travel Program for Chinese Nationals to Northern Mariana Islands.
4. Erickson Immigration Group : DHS Suspends CNMI EVS-TAP Program for Chinese Nationals.
5. Academic Block : Birth Tourism Elimination Act explained Tim Scott’s Senate Bill Explained.
6. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Register Notice.