In regional news, CNMI Del. Gregorio Sablan is urging the Department of Homeland Security to implement the Economic Vitality and Security Travel Authorization Program. 

It’s also known as EVS-TAP and would be a subprogram of the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program meant to follow the current U.S. visa policy allowing entry of Chinese Nationals into the CNMI without a visa for up to 14 days for business or pleasure.

Sablan is asking DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to allow the proposed rule to be published so it can be fully considered.

A summary of the rule states, ”Once implemented, the CNMI EVS-TAP will allow prescreened nationals of the People's Republic of China to travel without a visa only to the CNMI under specified conditions."

Sablan said, “Tourism in the Marianas is still emerging from the pandemic quarantine period, but in the long run, our islands must establish what has traditionally been the mainstay of our economy.”

Local business leaders say an alternative solution must be in place immediately if DHS revokes the NMI’s current discretionary parole program.