Suspension of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program (EVS-TAP)

Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of Homeland Security AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, DHS. ACTION: General notice. SUMMARY: This notice announces the decision of the Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) to suspend the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program (EVS-TAP). EVS-TAP allows prescreened nationals of the People's Republic of China (PRC) to travel to the CNMI without a visa for temporary visits under specified conditions. Pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulations, the Secretary has broad authority to suspend the program for good cause, including threats to national security, law enforcement interests, and immigration enforcement. The Secretary has determined that there is good cause to suspend EVS-TAP, while DHS, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Interior, evaluates the program. DATES: Suspension of the CNMI EVS-TAP is effective at 1400 EDT on October 30, 2026. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Melanie Mataxas, Traveler Authorization and Communications Program Management Office, Office of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, at (202) 325-1372, or via email at melanie.d.mataxas@cbp.dhs.gov . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Generally, under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 8 U.S.C. 1101 et. seq. , aliens seeking admission to the United States, including nonimmigrants visiting te…