Urgent| "Guam" A loophole in American national security…and Congress warns against exposing military secrets
Members of the US Congress are dissatisfied with the federal government’s response to Chinese citizens freely entering US territory, with one senator saying it puts the military “at risk”.
< h2>20 members of the US Congress
More than 20 members of Congress blamed President Joe Biden’s administration for not closing what is being considered It is referred to as visa loopholes that allow Chinese individuals, in some cases, to illegally enter Guam through the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
National security concerns stem from the Visa Waiver Program sponsored by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Which allows Chinese citizens to enter Guam via the CNMI Islands without a separate B-1 “Business” visa. Or B-2 “tourism”.
On November 30, 2023, 32 senators and representatives, including Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa and Representative Neil Dunn of Florida, wrote a letter to the Secretary of Homeland Security. "DHS" Alejandro Mayorkas express their concern about the policy, known as the Unified Natural Resources. The 2008 “CNRA” law.
Members of Congress waited more than four months for clarity, which many say they did not get.
“The Chinese Communist Party has already proven that it will stop at nothing to infiltrate the United States, and this threat grows every day as Chinese citizens use the visa loophole to access our vital military facilities in Guam,” Ernst said.
“Instead of listening to my calls to close this gap and prevent further spying on the Chinese Communist Party, the Biden administration dragged its feet for four months and is now defending an outdated policy,” she said.
Ernest said: “No.” Make no mistake, they are putting our military secrets at risk. We must change this visa policy and end the entry of Chinese nationals into our military facilities on U.S. soil for any malicious activity.”
On April 1, DHS responded to members of Congress by saying that the codified policy requires DHS Identify countries from which CNMI receives "significant economic benefit" of the number of leisure visitors during the year prior to enactment of the law.
The Department of Homeland Security determined that the People’s Republic of China met this economic threshold in 2009.
A DHS spokesperson told Newsweek on Tuesday: “DHS responds to congressional communications directly through official channels, and the Department will continue to respond appropriately to congressional oversight.”
According to the CNRA, as of April 3 October 2019, citizens of the People’s Republic of China can travel to "CNMI" Without a visa, a temporary visit for business or pleasure for up to 14 days does not include employment.
Individuals without a visa are not permitted to travel to other parts of the United States, including Guam.
When these individuals are encountered at CNMI airports, CBP officers are instructed to prevent their travel to other US destinations.
They are located CNMI Island is about 120 miles north of Guam, a US territory, and 1,500 miles east of the Philippines, just over three hours by plane from Tokyo.
The ministry wrote in its correspondence: "It remains DHS is vigilant in its screening and vetting duties, which are focused on eliminating exploitation of our immigrant and nonimmigrant visa processes, including by identifying high-risk travelers or denying them entry when necessary.
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