King-Hinds defends EVS-TAP after 34 House members raise concerns

Delegate Kimberlyn King-Hinds said she is working to educate members of Congress about the Northern Mariana Islands’ unique economic situation after 34 lawmakers sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security seeking clarification on immigration programs affecting the CNMI, including the Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program, or EVS-TAP.

In a statement issued after the letter circulated among House members, King-Hinds said she is aware of the concerns raised by some of her colleagues about immigration policies and birth tourism tied to the islands.

“The CNMI is a proud American community on the front lines of the Indo-Pacific, and our islands play an important role in advancing U.S. presence in this strategically important region,” she said.

The CNMI’s economy, she noted, remains heavily dependent on tourism and requires continued access to international markets as the islands rebuild from years of economic disruption.

“Our tourism-driven economy depends on responsible access to international visitors, and programs such as the Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program (EVS-TAP) are essential to ensuring that our islands remain economically viable while maintaining appropriate security safeguards,” King-Hinds said.

The delegate added that many lawmakers in Washington, D.C., are still learning about the CNMI’s distinct circumstances within the U.S. immigration system.

“In my first year in Congress, I have come to appreciate that educating all 435 members about the CNMI’s unique circumstances takes time,” she said. “Some of the concerns reflected in this letter highlight how easily our situation can be misunderstood.”

She emphasized that diversifying tourism markets remains critical to the territory’s economic recovery.

“For the CNMI, access to diverse tourism markets is essential for our very survival,” King-Hinds said. “The core issue is not just one program or one market, but ensuring the CNMI has every available tool to rebuild and sustain its economy.”

King-Hinds also framed the issue within the broader U.S. strategic posture in the region.

“The United States cannot afford to see an American territory in the Indo-Pacific lose the economic foundation that allows our islands to thrive and contribute to our nation’s broader strategic interests,” she said.

At the same time, she warned that limiting economic opportunities for the territory could create additional federal responsibilities.

“If federal policies limit economic opportunities for our islands, the federal government must also be prepared to provide the resources necessary to sustain our community,” she said.

King-Hinds said she will continue engaging federal partners and fellow lawmakers as the issue moves forward in Washington.

“I will continue working with my colleagues and federal partners to ensure policies affecting the CNMI reflect our realities and support both the economic vitality of our islands and America’s long-term presence in the Indo-Pacific,” she said.

The March 9, 2026, letter, addressed to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Department of State, and the U.S. Department of the Interior, raises concerns about alleged birth tourism involving Chinese nationals and immigration pathways that allow visa-free travel to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

The lawmakers asked federal agencies to provide data on the number of children born to Chinese nationals in the United States and in the CNMI since 2009 and whether any of those individuals have returned to China, reached voting age, or have links to the Chinese Communist Party.

They also asked whether the categorical parole program created in 2009 and the Guam-CNMI visa waiver framework remain active and requested figures on how many Chinese nationals have entered the CNMI through those programs and through EVS-TAP.

The letter was led by congressmen Chip Roy, Tom Tiffany, and Eli Crane and was also signed by Scott Perry, Andy Ogles, Barry Moore, Byron Donalds, Randy Fine, Mary E. Miller, Ben Cline, Ralph Norman, Russell Fry, Nancy Mace, Lance Gooden, Paul Gosar, Harriet Hageman, Michael Cloud, Warren Davidson, Elise Stefanik, Anna Paulina Luna, Pat Harrigan, Julie Fedorchak, Andy Biggs, Andrew Clyde, Clay Higgins, Ronny L. Jackson, Riley M. Moore, Brian Babin, Andy Harris, Keith Self, Wesley Hunt, Mike Haridopolos, Mark E. Harris, and Josh Brecheen.