US Cracks Down on Birth Tourism Schemes

The United States has begun cracking down on what it describes as “illegal birth tourism schemes” involving foreign nationals who use visitor visas to travel to the U.S. to give birth and secure citizenship for their children.

The U.S. Department of State said in a statement posted on X on Wednesday that the Trump administration is working to “defend the integrity of U.S. citizenship” by ending such practices.

“No foreigner is permitted to obtain a visitor visa for the primary purpose of acquiring U.S. citizenship for a child by giving birth in the U.S.,” it said.

The department said a U.S. embassy in West Africa uncovered a “sophisticated birth tourism network” involving more than 100 foreign nationals allegedly using fraudulent documents and visa “fixers” to obtain U.S. visas for the purpose of securing citizenship for their children.

“We shut it down, revoked these foreign nationals’ visas, and are coordinating with local authorities to systematically identify and disrupt similar operations,” it added.

The State Department also said a U.S. embassy has identified more than 400 suspected birth tourism cases since 2024, linking them to at least six companies accused of coaching applicants on visa interview responses, arranging accommodation in the U.S., and organising delivery plans.

It further stated that a U.S. embassy in North Africa revoked more than 100 visas belonging to alleged “birth tourism” parents who travelled to the U.S. primarily to give birth so their children could acquire citizenship.

The department said consular officers, working with law enforcement and using data analytics, have identified and disrupted networks exploiting the visa system.