By Bryan Manabat
bryan@mvariety.com
Variety News Staff
THE Saipan Chamber of Commerce has pushed back against a recent letter from three U.S. senators calling for changes to the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program, arguing that the lawmakers’ concerns are rooted in outdated references and inaccurate or biased media reports that misrepresent current conditions in the Commonwealth.
In a letter addressed to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, the Chamber said the Jan. 15, 2026 correspondence from Sens. Rick Scott, Jim Banks, and Markwayne Mullin risks undermining the CNMI’s fragile economic recovery following the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Chamber said the senators’ claims warrant scrutiny and fact-based discussion, warning that reliance on misleading information could prompt federal policy decisions with severe economic consequences for the Marianas. It added that the CNMI economy remains in a prolonged recovery period and that abrupt changes to federal travel policy would have immediate negative impacts on businesses, employment, and overall regional stability.
Central to the Chamber’s response was its defense of the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program and its subset, the CNMI Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program, or EVS-TAP. According to the Chamber, EVS-TAP was developed during the Trump administration as a security-focused enhancement to the existing visa-waiver framework and directly addresses many of the concerns raised by the senators.
Although implementation of EVS-TAP was delayed, the program was finalized under the Biden administration in 2024. The Chamber said EVS-TAP allows for properly vetted tourism travel to the CNMI by citizens of the People’s Republic of China while maintaining security safeguards. It also noted that the program aligns with the Nov. 2025 U.S. National Security Strategy, which identifies economic resilience as a core element of national security.
The Chamber emphasized that the visa-waiver framework supports lawful tourism, small-business sustainability, and employment for U.S. citizens and residents throughout the Commonwealth.
Addressing concerns about birth tourism, the Chamber acknowledged that the issue was previously significant in the CNMI but said it is no longer prevalent. It cited targeted policy changes, enhanced screening measures, and close coordination with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and other federal agencies as having effectively mitigated the problem. Current data and operating conditions, the Chamber said, were not reflected in the senators’ letter.
While reaffirming its support for strong border security and enforcement, the Chamber called for continued dialogue with federal officials and urged policymakers to rely on current data and verified information rather than what it described as sensationalized or unverifiable media reports.
The letter was signed by Joe C. Guerrero, president of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce’s board, who said the organization stands ready to work with federal partners on collaborative solutions that protect national security interests while preserving lawful travel essential to the CNMI’s economic recovery.
Bryan Manabat was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College where he also studied criminal justice. He is the recipient of the NMI Humanities Award as an Outstanding Teacher (Non-Classroom) in 2013, and has worked for the CNMI Motheread/Fatheread Literacy Program as lead facilitator.
