Republican: Three senior Republican lawmakers have called on the Trump administration to immediately terminate specific visa and parole initiatives that they believe are being misused by Chinese nationals to bypass United States citizenship laws. According to the senators, these policies have unintentionally opened pathways for birth tourism and overseas surrogacy, raising serious concerns related to national security, immigration control, and local infrastructure strain.
In a formal letter addressed to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Senators Rick Scott, Jim Banks, and Markwayne Mullin urged decisive action against what they described as loopholes in existing immigration programs. The senators argued that these initiatives allow nationals from Communist China to gain accelerated access to US citizenship through children born on American soil, particularly in US territories.
They emphasized that the issue goes beyond immigration fairness and directly impacts long-term national security. The lawmakers praised the administration’s broader commitment to homeland protection but warned that policies developed under previous administrations had created vulnerabilities that could be exploited without sufficient scrutiny.
A major focus of the senators’ criticism was the Guam–Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Visa Waiver Program. Established in 2009, this program allows certain travelers, including Hong Kong passport holders, to enter the CNMI for short stays without a visa. Over time, lawmakers say, the program has contributed to a surge in birth tourism, especially on the island of Saipan.
In addition, the senators highlighted a newer initiative launched in 2024, the CNMI Economic Vitality and Security Travel Authorization Program. This policy permits Chinese nationals to enter the CNMI visa-free for up to 14 days. According to the letter, this expansion further weakened immigration safeguards and encouraged an increase in short-term visits linked to childbirth.
The senators supported their arguments with data from investigative reports. They noted that births to visiting Chinese mothers in Saipan increased dramatically, from fewer than ten per year in 2009 to nearly 600 annually by 2018. Since the program’s inception, more than 3,300 babies have reportedly been born in Saipan to Chinese nationals, with dozens of such births recorded in the most recent year alone.
Under current US law, any child born on US soil is granted citizenship. Once these children reach adulthood, they can legally sponsor their parents for permanent residency, potentially leading to extended family-based immigration over time.
The letter also referenced findings that Chinese nationals are increasingly using the US surrogacy system to secure citizenship for their children. Lawmakers warned that these arrangements often occur outside traditional immigration vetting processes, making it difficult for authorities to properly assess risks or intentions.
They argued that when citizenship pathways operate without robust oversight, they undermine the integrity of the immigration system and create challenges for future enforcement.
Beyond federal concerns, the senators stressed the local consequences of unchecked birth tourism. Former CNMI Governor Arnold Palacios has publicly stated that the influx of birth tourists overwhelmed the territory’s only public hospital, stretching medical staff and resources beyond capacity. According to the lawmakers, local taxpayers are left to shoulder the financial burden of providing healthcare services to short-term visitors.
In their closing remarks, the senators urged the administration to revoke the Biden-era travel authorization program and reinstate standard tourist visa requirements for Chinese nationals traveling to the CNMI. They also recommended ending Hong Kong’s participation in the existing visa waiver framework to restore stronger immigration controls.
The lawmakers concluded that without immediate reforms, these programs would continue to incentivize exploitation of US citizenship laws while placing unnecessary pressure on local communities and national security systems.
