US Suspends Visa-Free Entry for Chinese Nationals to Northern Mariana Islands

The United States has suspended visa-free entry for Chinese citizens travelling to the Northern Mariana Islands. This measure was implemented due to stated concerns over national security threats and the practice of "birth tourism".

Previously, a special programme allowed Chinese nationals who underwent preliminary screening to enter the Northern Mariana Islands without a visa. This arrangement permitted stays of up to 14 days. The programme had been established during the administration of former President Joe Biden.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security made this decision. According to reports, Markwayne Mullin was at the head of this department during the decision. Republican Party representatives had earlier cautioned that simplified entry procedures could pose espionage risks. They also raised flags about its potential misuse for "birth tourism". This practice involves foreign women travelling to the United States to give birth, aiming for their child to gain American citizenship.

The Northern Mariana Islands hold commonwealth status within a political union with the United States. Consequently, the entry of foreign nationals into the territory falls under U.S. law. The suspension aligns with a broader tightening of migration policies by the current administration. A separate announcement several days prior detailed the revocation of more than 300,000 visas by U.S. authorities.