Florida Senator Rick Scott is moving to overhaul immigration rules in U.S. territories, introducing legislation today that would mandate standard visa requirements for all Chinese nationals entering any part of the United States.
The One Nation, One Visa Policy Act specifically targets a long-standing program that allows travelers from China to enter the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) without a traditional visa.
The Florida Republican, joined by Senators Jim Banks and Markwayne Mullin, argues that existing “parole” and waiver programs in the Pacific create a national security gap. Currently, the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program and the more recent Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program (EVS-TAP) allow for short-term visits for tourism or business.
READ: Scott Jennings Dismisses 2028 Rivalry On CNN, Betting Big On A Vance-Rubio Power Duo
However, Scott and his colleagues contend these programs are being exploited for “birth tourism” and unauthorized travel to Guam, which houses sensitive American military installations.
A Push for Uniform Border Security
The new bill seeks to standardize entry requirements across all 50 states and every U.S. territory. In a letter sent this week to the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of the Interior, the senators called for the immediate revocation of these Pacific-specific travel waivers.
Data cited by the lawmakers highlights a sharp increase in births to visiting foreign nationals in Saipan. In 2009, there were fewer than 10 such births; by 2018, that number rose to nearly 600, at one point exceeding the number of births to local U.S. residents. Senator Scott argued that this practice places an undue burden on local medical infrastructure and creates long-term security vulnerabilities.
Targeting Surrogacy Exploitation
In tandem with the visa legislation, Senator Scott is championing the Stopping Adversarial Foreign Exploitation of Kids In Domestic Surrogacy (SAFE KIDS) Act. This measure aims to:
- Void Surrogacy Contracts: Invalidate any commercial surrogacy agreements between U.S. surrogates and citizens of “foreign entities of concern.”
- Criminalize Brokers: Impose fines and potential prison sentences of up to one year for brokers who knowingly facilitate these contracts.
- Prioritize Child Welfare: Ensure that custody of any child born under a voided contract is decided by state law based on the “best interests of the child,” rather than the original agreement.
READ: Zuckerberg Under Fire: Meta CEO To Testify In Landmark Social Media Addiction Trial
The legislative package comes amid reports of individuals using the CNMI as a transit point to reach Guam by boat. In one recent case, a foreign national was sentenced to prison for transporting individuals who were later apprehended near Andersen Air Force Base.
The executive branch has been requested to provide a response regarding the potential revocation of these visa waivers by the end of January.
If passed, the One Nation, One Visa Policy Act would effectively end the regional exceptions that have governed travel to the Pacific territories since 2009.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox
