SAIPAN – House Floor Leader Marissa R. Flores Friday introduced first-of-its-kind legislation aimed at eliminating the commercial birth tourism industry in the Commonwealth and reinforcing federal immigration enforcement, her office said in a press release.
The Business Integrity and Regulation of Tourism Harms Act, known as the BIRTH Act, targets the organized commercial facilitation of birth tourism, including brokers, maternity housing operations, coordinated travel packages, and deceptive practices related to citizenship-based marketing.
The bill is structured to complement federal authority, focusing exclusively on commercial conduct within the Commonwealth while preserving federal jurisdiction over immigration, admission, and citizenship determinations.
“This legislation demonstrates that the Commonwealth is taking concrete, enforceable action to address birth tourism at its source, the commercial enterprises that profit from it,” Flores said. “We are committed to working alongside our federal partners to ensure that visitor programs are used as intended.”
According to the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation, tourist births have declined by approximately 92 percent, from 581 births in 2018 to 47 in 2025. Those 47 now represent a small fraction of total deliveries.
“This is a model for how a U.S. jurisdiction can take meaningful action within its authority while supporting federal enforcement,” Flores said. “We are demonstrating that strong local laws and federal policy can work together effectively.”
The Precinct 3 representative chairs the House Committee on Tourism in the 24th Commonwealth Legislature. The BIRTH Act follows her March response to a letter from U.S. Reps. Chip Roy, Thomas Tiffany, and Elijah Crane on birth tourism and the CNMI’s Electronic Visa System and Travel Authorization Program, in which she urged federal decisions on the Commonwealth to reflect present-day facts rather than outdated assumptions.
Flores’ office said the Commonwealth reaffirms its commitment to lawful tourism, economic partnership, and national security, and encourages continued coordination with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection on the consistent application of visitor admission standards.