DHS Suspends Chinese Visa-Free Travel to Northern Mariana Islands Over Birth-Tourism Concerns

The Department of Homeland Security announced it is suspending the visa-free travel program that has allowed certain Chinese nationals to visit the Northern Mariana Islands without an advance visa. The suspension takes effect October 30 while officials review the program for concerns including national security, law enforcement, and immigration enforcement, according to a notice published in the Federal Register on October 27.

Birth tourism refers to temporary travel by foreign nationals for the purpose of giving birth in U.S. territory so the child obtains citizenship. Republicans have long linked the NMI route and similar arrangements to organized schemes, particularly involving Chinese clients. Local tourism officials noted that Chinese visitors accounted for more than 20 percent of arrivals in fiscal year 2026 and expressed concern about the economic impact.

The action follows President Trump’s August 6 executive order directing the State and Homeland Security departments to prevent use of nonimmigrant visas for birth tourism, including possible denial or revocation of visas and action against facilitators. Secretary of State Marco Rubio later issued policy restricting visas for operators of commercial birth-tourism networks and related brokers. The Justice Department has previously prioritized prosecutions of such schemes, citing cases involving Chinese operators who charged tens of thousands of dollars and coached clients on visa fraud.

Federal rules permit suspension of the program for the stated reasons. DHS will review it in consultation with the State and Interior departments. Sen. Mike Lee welcomed the step, stating that America is not a nursery for the Chinese Communist Party to obtain citizenship.

The Northern Mariana Islands have been a documented destination for birth-tourism packages that include housing, caregivers, and logistics for Chinese clients. Prior federal prosecutions dismantled several large operations in California and elsewhere that served hundreds of clients.