Emphasizing that the program has been "suspended, not terminated," CNMI Del. Kimberlyn King-Hinds said Tuesday she is working with federal officials to address concerns that prompted the suspension of a key travel program for Chinese visitors to the Northern Mariana Islands.
King-Hinds said she spoke directly with the White House, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and House leadership following the Department of Homeland Security's announcement suspending the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Economic Vitality and Security Travel Authorization Program, or EVS-TAP. She said Mullin assured her that DHS would work directly with the CNMI to better understand and address the issues that led to the suspension.
King-HInds said, "We have experienced interruptions to travel programs serving the Commonwealth before, and we will work through this together with our federal partners to address the concerns that have been raised and find a path forward, just as we have done before."
According to the delegate, the program was established with safeguards allowing DHS to suspend operations when security or law enforcement concerns arise. She said federal and local officials would work together to address those concerns and support the program's resumption as quickly as possible.
The congresswoman also warned that a lengthy suspension could further burden the Commonwealth's struggling tourism sector.
"Our tourism industry is already facing tremendous challenges, and a prolonged disruption would have serious consequences for our businesses, workers and families," King-Hinds said. "We must also consider the immediate effects on airlines, travel arrangements, and the businesses that depend on visitor arrivals."
The Department of Homeland Security announced Tuesday that it will suspend EVS-TAP effective Oct. 30, requiring Chinese nationals seeking to visit the CNMI for business or tourism to obtain a U.S. visa unless another lawful exception applies.
Chinese nationals already admitted under the program may remain through their authorized period of stay.
In a Federal Register notice, DHS said the program's suspension was warranted because of national security, immigration enforcement and law enforcement concerns. The agency cited the risk of unauthorized travel beyond the CNMI, potential espionage activities involving sensitive military infrastructure in the Mariana Islands, birth tourism concerns and previous criminal cases involving the smuggling of Chinese nationals from the CNMI to Guam.
EVS-TAP took effect in February 2025 and allowed pre-screened nationals of the People's Republic of China to travel directly to the CNMI without first obtaining a U.S. visa. More than 3,000 Chinese nationals used the program during fiscal year 2025, according to DHS.
While acknowledging that some CNMI businesses have relied on Chinese tourism, DHS said economic considerations do not outweigh what it described as acute national security, immigration and law enforcement concerns. The agency noted that Chinese visitors may still travel to the CNMI through the standard U.S. visa process.
King-Hinds said her immediate focus is ensuring the concerns identified by federal officials are addressed so the program can resume.
