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US Congress Demands the End of China-Linked Birth Tourism

Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. The U.S. allowed certain Chinese nationals to travel to the islands without obtaining a traditional U.S. visa.

By Mark Young

March 13, 2026
2:15 am
Los Angeles, CA

Representatives Chip Roy (R-TX) and Tom Tiffany (R-WI) are pressing the Trump administration for answers about whether China is exploiting U.S. birthright citizenship and visa-free travel programs. In a letter sent Monday to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, the lawmakers warned that Chinese nationals may be leveraging birth tourism and special entry programs in the islands to secure U.S. citizenship for their children. “American citizenship is a sacred trust — not a loophole to be exploited,” Roy said. “When foreign adversaries like the Chinese Communist Party can use birth tourism and visa-less programs to gain influence within our borders, we must restore integrity to our immigration system and defend the sovereignty of our Republic.” Tiffany said the issue represents

Representatives Chip Roy (R-TX) and Tom Tiffany (R-WI) are pressing the Trump administration for answers about whether China is exploiting U.S. birthright citizenship and visa-free travel programs.

In a letter sent Monday to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, the lawmakers warned that Chinese nationals may be leveraging birth tourism and special entry programs in the islands to secure U.S. citizenship for their children.

“American citizenship is a sacred trust — not a loophole to be exploited,” Roy said. “When foreign adversaries like the Chinese Communist Party can use birth tourism and visa-less programs to gain influence within our borders, we must restore integrity to our immigration system and defend the sovereignty of our Republic.”

Tiffany said the issue represents a national security concern. “Communist China has exploited birth tourism by sending women to the Northern Mariana Islands solely to give birth and secure U.S. citizenship for their children,” he said. “It is time to close this loophole, end the abuse, and protect our national security.”

Lawmakers cited reports estimating that between 750,000 and 1.5 million Chinese nationals have obtained U.S. citizenship through birthright citizenship and the birth tourism industry. They warned that many of those children are raised primarily in China and could eventually participate in U.S. elections despite having limited ties to the United States.

In their letter, Roy and Tiffany asked federal agencies to provide information on:

How many children have been born in the CNMI since 2009 to at least one Chinese national parent
How many of those individuals have reached voting age
How many are registered to vote in the United States
Whether any have documented ties to the Chinese Communist Party
Entry numbers for Chinese nationals using CNMI-specific immigration programs

The lawmakers pointed to immigration policies enacted during the administrations of Barack Obama and Joe Biden that allowed certain Chinese nationals to travel to the islands without obtaining a traditional U.S. visa. In 2024, the Biden administration finalized the Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program, allowing short-term visa-free travel for some Chinese visitors to the territory.

Roy and Tiffany argue those policies helped fuel a surge in birth tourism, particularly in Saipan, the CNMI capital.

They also noted that once U.S.-born children turn 21, they can petition for lawful permanent resident status for their parents, potentially creating additional immigration pathways.

While some supporters argue the programs support the CNMI’s economy, the lawmakers said national security concerns should take precedence.

“We respectfully urge you to end any parole, visa waiver, or visa-less programs extended to Chinese citizens and provide a full accounting of the extent to which birth tourism has been exploited by the PRC,” the letter states.