Concern grows about tourist parole

Statement

U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Director of Field Operations Brian Humphrey (third from right) briefed me on the growing concern at the Department of Homeland Security regarding parole in the Marianas, the only place in the U.S. where Chinese can enter without prior paperwork. Along with others, I convinced then-Secretary Janet Napolitano in 2009 to allow these Chinese tourists to enter using parole. But abuses, like construction workers posing as tourists, and the growth in numbers -- from 30,000 in 2009 to 230,000 now -- are causing the Trump administration to reconsider this discretionary program. On Friday, Governor Torres announced that he is using his influence with President Trump to ensure that parole for Chinese and Russian tourists continues. I thank the Governor for keeping us all informed of his action.

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