WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Neal Dunn, M.D. (Florida-02) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to express concern about the United States’ visa policy for Chinese nationals entering the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).

“The Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands is the only U.S. territory that does not require a visa for Chinese nationals to enter. Current statute allows Chinese nationals to enter the islands for 14 days visa-free,” said Congressman Dunn. “Law enforcement does an exceptional job capturing those who come to the islands with ill intent. However, we must implement the requirement of a B-1/B-2 visa to enter the CMNI to successfully deter the Chinese Communist Party’s aggression and transnational repression.”

“It’s important to help protect the people of CNMI, and a thoughtful B1/B2 Visa policy is part of a commonsense effort to preserve safety throughout the Indo-Pacific,” said Congresswoman Aumua Amata Radewagen (American Samoa). “Thank you to Congressman Dunn for his ongoing work on Pacific security issues.”

“Guam and the CNMI are once again targets of China's attempts to gain an edge over the United States. A large number of Chinese citizens enter Guam's shores illegally, often arriving in small boats from our neighboring islands. This poses a serious threat to the security of my island and to the United States of America. We must take action to safeguard our national security and make it harder for unauthorized visitors to infiltrate the Northern Mariana Islands. I want to thank Congressman Neal Dunn for advocating for our cause and pushing for a B-1/B-2 Visa requirements,” said Congressman James “Jim” Moylan (Guam).

As mentioned in the letter, four companies in Guam were issued sanctions for using illegal labor from China this year. Chinese citizens were caught entering Saipan and then using messaging apps to coordinate illegal jobs and illegal boat rides to Guam, which is home to highly strategic U.S. military installations.  Moreover, just last month, the Department of Justice prosecuted a case in which two Chinese nationals using the United States Postal Service for the distribution of methamphetamine in CNMI were sentenced to prison. 

Read the full letter here.

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