{
  "id": 16821133,
  "title": "US ends visa waiver for Chinese over birth tourism, people smuggling allegations",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/us-ends-visa-waiver-for-chinese-over-birth-tourism-people-smuggling",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-28T00:32:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/world/20261028/us-ends-visa-waiver-for-chinese-over-birth-tourism-people-smuggling-allegations"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The US government has halted visa-free entry for Chinese individuals visiting the Northern Mariana Islands due to allegations of birth tourism and people smuggling. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the suspension of the Economic Vitality and Security Travel Authorization Program (EVS-TAP) on Monday. Senator Mike Lee commended the decision on social media, labeling it a \"Biden-era loophole\" for Chinese birth tourism and praising the Trump administration for closing the pathway. The EVS-TAP permitted pre-screened Chinese nationals to visit the islands for up to 14 days without a US visa. The program, also known as EVS-TAP, will be cancelled for existing authorizations starting October 30, although Chinese nationals currently in the Pacific Ocean territory may finalize their authorized stays. Over 3,000 Chinese nationals utilized the EVS-TAP in the 2025 financial year. The DHS stated it had \"good cause\" to suspend the program, as PRC nationals are almost certainly exploiting EVS-TAP.",
  "summary": "Washington has suspended visa-free entry for Chinese visitors to the Northern Mariana Islands amid allegations of birth tourism and people smuggling in the US territory. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Monday the suspension of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Economic Vitality and Security Travel Authorization Program. US Senator Mike Lee hailed the move on…",
  "key_points": [
    "US suspends visa-free entry for Chinese to Northern Mariana Islands",
    "EVS-TAP program halted due to birth tourism and people smuggling allegations",
    "Over 3,000 Chinese nationals used EVS-TAP in 2025 financial year"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Suspending this pre-screened entry program signals a tightening of border controls to prevent the exploitation of travel loopholes suspected of facilitating birth tourism and illicit smuggling activities.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}