The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is standing by a 2009 decision that permits Chinese nationals to enter U.S. territory, specifically Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, without a visa under the Guam-Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Visa Waiver Program. This decision was made based on the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008, which identified the People's Republic of China (PRC) as meeting the economic threshold for this program.
Under this policy, PRC nationals are allowed to travel to Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands for up to 14 days for business or pleasure purposes but are not authorized for employment. They are not permitted to travel to other parts of the United States, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection will prevent their onward travel if encountered at CNMI airports.
DHS emphasized that it remains vigilant in screening and vetting travelers to prevent exploitation of the visa system and to deny entry to high-risk individuals. However, Republican lawmakers have criticized this policy, labeling it as a 'loophole' that poses national security risks, particularly to military installations in Guam.
Lawmakers have called on the Biden administration to close this perceived loophole, expressing concerns about the potential infiltration of Chinese Communist Party members into the United States. They argue that the current policy puts critical military bases, such as Naval Base Guam and Anderson Air Force Base, at risk.
These concerns are further fueled by a significant increase in the number of Chinese nationals arriving at the U.S. border illegally in recent years. The surge in apprehensions of Chinese nationals at the northern and southern borders has raised alarms about national security threats and the need for stricter visa policies.
While DHS defends the existing policy as compliant with the law and necessary for economic benefits, Republican lawmakers continue to push for changes to prevent what they perceive as potential security vulnerabilities. The debate over this visa waiver program highlights the ongoing tensions between immigration policies, national security interests, and diplomatic relations with China.
