House Republicans press Trump administration over Chinese birth tourism

First on Fox: House Republicans are pressing the Trump administration for answers about whether China is exploiting legacy American citizenship and visa programs on American soil to secure its long-term influence within the United States.

In a message On Monday, it was sent to the outgoing Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, Reps. Chip Roy, R-Texas, and Tom Tiffany, R-Wis., and 32 other GOP members are raising concerns that so-called “birth tourism” and visa waiver policies in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands could be taken advantage of by Chinese nationals in ways that pose national security risks.

Noem is scheduled to leave her position at the Department of Homeland Security at the end of this month.

“U.S. citizenship is a sacred trust — not a loophole to be exploited,” Roy said. “When foreign adversaries like the Chinese Communist Party can leverage birth tourism and no-visa programs to gain influence within our borders, we must restore the integrity of our immigration system and defend the sovereignty of our republic.”

Tiffany argued that “Communist China has Exploiting “birth tourism” By sending women to the Northern Mariana Islands only to give birth and secure US citizenship for their children,” she said, adding that “it is time to close this loophole, end abuses, and protect our national security.”

Trump says Supreme Court ruling against birthright citizenship order will benefit China

House Republicans are pressing the Trump administration for answers about whether China is exploiting legacy American citizenship and visa programs on American soil to secure its long-term influence within the United States. (Gemstocks/Getty Images)

The Northern Mariana Islands is a US territory in the Pacific Ocean, and like births in any US state, children born there are granted US citizenship under the Fourteenth Amendment, although the territory operates under certain distinct immigration rules.

The lawmakers cite reports estimating that between 750,000 and 1.5 million Chinese citizens have obtained U.S. citizenship through birthright policies and birth tourism, although federal agencies have not publicly confirmed those numbers. In their letter, Roy and Tiffany ask the Departments of Homeland Security, State, and Interior to provide data on the number of children born since 2009 to at least one parent who is a Chinese citizen, the number who have reached voting age, and the number who are registered to vote in the United States.

They also ask whether any of these individuals have documented ties to the Chinese Communist Party and request entry numbers for Chinese citizens under the Northern Marianas’ immigration programs.

Under the Fourteenth Amendment, individuals born on U.S. soil are generally granted citizenship at birth. The controversy has centered around whether foreign nationals travel to the United States specifically to give birth so that their children can obtain citizenship — a practice commonly referred to as birth tourism.

Federal prosecutors in recent years have brought criminal cases against operators of birth tourism companies, particularly in California, where organizers were convicted of visa fraud and conspiracy to help foreign nationals misrepresent their intentions to travel to give birth in the United States.

The Northern Mariana Islands have long operated under distinct migration frameworks. In 2009, the Obama administration implemented a categorical parole program that allows… Some Chinese citizens To enter without obtaining a traditional US tourist visa. The Biden administration in 2024 finalized the rule to establish the Economic Vitality and Security Travel Authorization Program (EVS-TAP) for the Northern Mariana Islands, which allows some Chinese nationals to enter the region without a visa for short stays.

In a letter sent to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Reps. Chip Roy, R-Texas, and Tom Tiffany, R-Wisconsin, and 32 other GOP members raised concerns that so-called “birth tourism” and visa waiver policies in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) could benefit Chinese citizens in ways that pose national security risks. (Kevin Deitch/Getty Images)

“Communist China has exploited ‘birth tourism’ by sending women to the Northern Mariana Islands solely to give birth and secure US citizenship for their children,” Tiffany said, adding that “it is time to close this loophole, end violations, and protect our national security.” (AP Photo/Scott Bauer)

Lawmakers say these policies have created incentives for birth tourism on Saipan, the islands’ capital, pointing to reports that births by foreign visitors increased sharply after the 2009 changes.

NOEM supports the Save America Act, and criticizes “radical left” opposition to voter IDs and proof of citizenship

They warn that once U.S.-born children turn 21, they could apply for lawful permanent resident status for their parents, which could open additional immigration paths.

While the letter raises concerns that these individuals may eventually be able to do so Participation in the American electionsIt did not cite evidence that large numbers are currently registered to vote or that the Chinese government has directed birth tourism as a coordinated strategy.

The Departments of Homeland Security and Interior did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment. The State Department referred the matter back to the Department of Homeland Security.

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The letter comes amid escalating tensions between Washington and Beijing, as US officials have repeatedly warned of Chinese influence operations, intellectual property theft and espionage efforts targeting US institutions.

Roy and Tiffany urged the administration to end any parole or visa waiver programs offered to Chinese nationals in the Northern Mariana Islands and provide a full accounting of the scope of birth tourism involving PRC nationals.

The Chinese embassy could not immediately be reached for comment.