Tiffany renews criticism of CNMI visa waiver in newsletter

U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany renewed criticism of the visa waiver policy affecting the Northern Mariana Islands in his latest online newsletter, raising concerns about birth tourism and calling for more federal data on the issue.

In the weekly “Tiffany Telegram,” the Wisconsin Republican said he introduced the One Nation, One Visa Policy Act with Sen. Rick Scott of Florida and Rep. Chip Roy of Texas to close what he described as visa loopholes affecting the CNMI.

“As a recap, the Obama administration created a categorical parole program that allows Chinese nationals to travel to a U.S. territory, known as the Northern Mariana Islands, without obtaining a traditional U.S. tourist visa,” Tiffany wrote. “The Biden administration later expanded it even further.”

He said the policy has contributed to birth tourism in the islands.

“This has created a significant issue known as ‘birth tourism.’ Under this practice, pregnant women travel to U.S. soil specifically to give birth and secure U.S. citizenship for their children,” Tiffany wrote.

Tiffany added that the practice has grown significantly in the CNMI.

“The situation has become so widespread in the Northern Mariana Islands that in recent years more babies have been born there to Chinese mothers than to legal U.S. residents,” he said, calling it “a significant national security concern.”

The Wisconsin congressman said testimony at a recent Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing indicated that more than 1,000 birth-tourism companies in China target the United States and that about 1 million U.S. citizens are being raised in China.

“An entire industry has been built around exploiting loopholes in America’s immigration system, and we must put an end to it,” Tiffany wrote.

He said he and Roy also sent a letter requesting additional information from the Trump administration, including the number of children born since 2009 to at least one Chinese national parent, how many have reached voting age, and how many are registered to vote in the United States.

“U.S. citizenship should never be treated like a souvenir picked up during a foreign vacation,” Tiffany wrote. “It is sacred, and one of the greatest privileges in the world.”

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

“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,” King-Hinds said.

“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,” she added.

“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.”

The March 9, 2026 letter seeking clarification from federal agencies was led by Roy, Tiffany, and Rep. Eli Crane.