Rep. Tom Tiffany, a Republican from Wisconsin, is sounding the alarm on a little-known U.S. citizenship loophole that allows Chinese nationals to enter the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) without a visa. Tiffany has called on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to address what he describes as a glaring vulnerability that is enabling “birth tourism” and undermining national security.
Under current policy, Chinese citizens can enter the CNMI without obtaining a U.S. visa, taking advantage of a provision first introduced in 2009 under the Obama administration. This policy, known as “categorical parole,” was discontinued during the Trump administration but reinstated in January 2024 under President Biden. Tiffany argues that this exemption is being exploited by individuals who enter the islands to give birth, ensuring automatic U.S. citizenship for their children.
The numbers have raised concerns. According to Tiffany, fewer than 10 foreign-national births were recorded in the CNMI in 2009, but that number surged to nearly 600 by 2018. In recent years, births to foreign nationals have outnumbered those to legal U.S. residents in the territory. The congressman asserts that this increase is not coincidental but part of a deliberate strategy to bypass standard U.S. immigration requirements.
Tiffany is calling on DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to implement stricter immigration controls for the CNMI, requiring Chinese nationals to meet the same visa standards as those traveling to the continental U.S. He warns that the continued use of this loophole represents both a national security risk and an abuse of U.S. citizenship laws.
The congressman’s concerns align with broader debates over birthright citizenship and immigration security. The Fourteenth Amendment grants citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil, a policy that has long been criticized by conservatives who argue it incentivizes illegal immigration and foreign exploitation. Tiffany’s warning reflects ongoing Republican efforts to close legal gaps that allow non-citizens to gain access to U.S. benefits and protections.
The Biden administration has not yet publicly responded to Tiffany’s request, but the issue is expected to gain traction among lawmakers focused on immigration reform. As Congress debates potential legislative fixes, Republican leaders are likely to push for tighter restrictions on visa policies and border security to prevent further abuse of the system.
