(SCC) — The Saipan Chamber of Commerce has submitted a letter to the U.S. Secretaries Markwayne Mullin of the Department of Homeland Security, Marco Rubio of the Department of State, and Doug Burgum of the Department of the Interior, providing additional context and clarification regarding the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program or EVS-TAP.
The letter dated March 24, 2026, addresses recent congressional correspondence concerning birth tourism and CNMI immigration policies, emphasizes that EVS-TAP is a structured, secure, and vital system that supports the local economy while upholding national security.
The Chamber clarifies that while EVS-TAP has been referenced as a policy associated with the Obama and Biden administrations, the program originated from Section 902 consultations in 2019 between the CNMI government and the Trump administration and was later implemented in 2024.
EVS-TAP replaced the discretionary parole system, providing a more structured framework that strengthened screening, accountability, and federal oversight, representing a deliberate shift away from less controlled entry mechanisms.
The Chamber letter notes that figures cited on Chinese nationals obtaining U.S. citizenship are more consistent with travel under B-1/B-2 visitor visas, which often have validity periods up to 10 years and typically allow stays up to six months per visit.
In contrast, EVS-TAP is a narrowly tailored travel authorization limited to a single stay of up to 14 days, with mandatory electronic pre-screening and no provision for extension, residency, or prolonged presence. It is designed to support short-term, controlled tourism and does not function in a manner comparable to traditional visitor visas.
A review of available data indicates that EVS-TAP is functioning as an effective, enforceable system that is not a source of systemic violations.
Information recently shared by DHS indicated an overstay rate of approximately 0.25%, which is prior to the February 2026 implementation of the 287(g) agreement.
This makes EVS-TAP 552% more effective in terms of preventing overstays compared to the 1.63% overstay rate by B1/B2 non-immigrants from China in FY2024.
Furthermore, births to tourists have drastically declined from 3,427 between 2010 and 2019 to just 171 total births between 2020 and 2025, with recent figures not attributable to EVS-TAP.
Characterizing the current situation as an ongoing or escalating issue in the CNMI does not accurately reflect present conditions.
Reports of human trafficking and unlawful entry were associated with the prior discretionary parole system, not EVS-TAP, and following federal investigation and prosecution, there have been no reported incidents of this nature in nearly two years.
To further strengthen security, the CNMI government has taken additional proactive measures, including the 287(g) agreement, requesting support for regional reconnaissance to identify illicit sea traffic, and coordinating with the U.S. Coast Guard Base Guam for more effective interdiction.
Finally, the CNMI’s economy remains heavily dependent on tourism, with limited alternatives due to its geographic isolation and narrow economic base.
Programs such as EVS-TAP are essential to sustaining local businesses, preserving jobs for U.S. citizens and residents, and supporting economic stability as the region continues to recover from declines in visitor arrivals.
The Chamber fully supports strong national security measures but urges that policies remain targeted and evidence-based, and that programs like EVS-TAP continue to incorporate modern vetting and monitoring tools.
Broad restrictions or elimination of these programs, without viable alternatives, would have significant adverse economic consequences for the CNMI.
“We respectfully urge that any policy considerations affecting the CNMI be grounded in current data and an accurate understanding of existing programs,” said Dr. Joshua Wise, board president of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce. “It is critical that we carefully balance national security priorities with the economic sustainability of our community.”
The Saipan Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit organization whose mission is to support its members as a resource enhancing the quality of life and business on Saipan. Its mission is to create an island where businesses, families, and communities succeed together.
For more information about the Chamber or to learn how to become a Chamber member, go to www.saipanchamber.com/, call (670) 234-7150, or visit the 2nd Floor of the Marianas Business Plaza (Suite 201-A).
