Rep. Marissa Flores has introduced the Business Integrity and Regulation of Tourism Harms, or BIRTH Act, legislation designed to eliminate the commercial birth tourism industry in the CNMI and reinforce the integrity of federal immigration systems.
In a statement, Flores said the BIRTH Act represents a first-of-its-kind, jurisdiction‑specific approach targeting the organized commercial facilitation of birth tourism, including brokers, maternity housing operations, coordinated travel packages, and deceptive citizenship‑based marketing practices.
She said the measure is structured to complement — not conflict with — federal authority by focusing exclusively on commercial conduct within the Commonwealth while preserving federal jurisdiction over immigration, admission and citizenship determinations.
The introduction of the bill comes as federal scrutiny of CNMI entry programs has intensified. On March 9, 34 Republican members of the U.S. House sent a letter to the Departments of Homeland Security, State, and the Interior criticizing the CNMI’s visa‑waiver and parole programs, arguing that they created security vulnerabilities and enabled large‑scale birth tourism. Their letter urged federal agencies to reassess the Commonwealth’s China‑specific entry policies.
“This legislation demonstrates that the Commonwealth is taking concrete, enforceable action to address birth tourism at its source — the commercial enterprises that profit from it,” Flores said. “We are committed to working alongside our federal partners to ensure that visitor programs are used as intended.”
Flores added that the Commonwealth’s action comes at a time when available data already shows significant progress. Tourist births have declined by about 92 percent, from 581 births in 2018 to 47 in 2025, now representing a small fraction of total deliveries, according to the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation.
She said the decline underscores the effectiveness of coordinated federal policy and local enforcement measures.
“This is a model for how a U.S. jurisdiction can take meaningful action within its authority while supporting federal enforcement. We are demonstrating that strong local laws and federal policy can work together effectively,” she said.
