The United States government has established a new inter-agency task force to clamp down on birth tourism, revoking more than 600 visas in its first month of operation.
Birth tourism refers to the practice of foreign nationals travelling to the US primarily to give birth and secure American citizenship for their children, a right guaranteed to anyone born on US soil.
The Birth Tourism Prevention Task Force was announced by the Department of State under President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and works closely with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The move follows two executive orders Trump signed the previous week, directing federal agencies to deny visas, revoke travel authorisation and deport foreign nationals found to have entered the country for the purpose of giving birth.
“American citizenship is not for sale. But elaborate birth tourism rings are profiting off the exploitation of America’s laws, coaching foreigners to defraud the US visa system, arranging travel and housing, and even forging documents,” Rubio said.
According to a fact sheet from the Office of the Spokesperson, the task force will review the travel and visa history of applicants globally, identify cases of birth tourism, revoke the visas of individuals found culpable, and work to dismantle networks that profit from facilitating the practice.
The department warned that any foreigner who wilfully misrepresents the purpose of their travel to the US may become permanently ineligible for a visa or entry.
Consular Officers In Abuja, Lagos Told To Intensify Scrutiny
The department described birth tourism as having evolved into a lucrative, for-profit industry, with organised networks marketing services to prospective parents.
Some facilitators present themselves as doulas, midwives or wellness advocates while openly advertising “birth in the US” packages that include visa coaching, accommodation and hospital arrangements, the department said.
It further alleged that some operators forge medical documents or coach clients to lie about their travel purpose and avoid paying hospital bills, with online adverts promising clients “automatic citizenship and a future without borders.”
Consular officers at US embassies and consulates, including in Abuja and Lagos, have been directed to intensify scrutiny of visa applications showing red flags suggesting an intent to travel for childbirth.
The Bureau of Consular Affairs cited cases illustrating the patterns it is targeting, including a couple who used a conference and vacation trip as cover to give birth to two children in the US, concealing a previous US-born child on a later visa application, and a foreign government official who overstayed a one-week official visa by three months to give birth before departing.
“The Department of State is working closely with the Department of Homeland Security to combat birth tourism and protect the integrity of the US immigration system,” the statement said.
The department said the task force would continue analysing data across both agencies to identify patterns and networks, and would work with US embassies worldwide to train consular officers on detecting misrepresentation during visa interviews.
