The governors of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands are jointly urging the Trump administration to extend the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program to the Philippines, arguing the move would benefit the islands, the broader region, and U.S. interests across the Indo-Pacific.
In a letter to the Secretaries of Homeland Security and the Interior, Guam Gov. Lou A. Leon Guerrero and CNMI Gov. David M. Apatang propose a carveout that would allow Filipino travelers to visit Guam and the CNMI exclusively. They contend the arrangement would align with federal policy favoring a controlled process for cross-border travel that upholds immigration law while meeting regional needs.
The governors frame the proposal around three goals: strengthening alliances by recognizing the Philippines' decades-long status as a U.S. treaty ally, expanding regional mobility to spur travel demand and air traffic, and diversifying the islands' economies by bolstering existing commerce and attracting new business investment.
Anticipating concerns over border security and immigration compliance, the two leaders pledged to keep working with federal partners on safeguards including pre-travel authorization, traveler vetting protocols, and strict limits on the duration and purpose of visits.
They also reminded the Cabinet secretaries that Guam and the CNMI are central to the United States' strategic posture in the Pacific, and that admitting eligible Filipino visitors would help advance both federal and regional objectives.