Under President Donald Trump’s leadership, the United States is using all available tools to defend the integrity of U.S. citizenship, ensure nonimmigrant visas are used only for their lawful and intended purposes, and prevent the exploitation of such visas through birth tourism.
As President Trump has made clear, citizenship is not a commodity to be acquired through the calculated exploitation of U.S. immigration laws. The Department of State, under the leadership of Secretary Marco Rubio is working closely with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to combat birth tourism and protect the integrity of the U.S. immigration system.
To maximize the success of this comprehensive effort, the State Department has established a Birth Tourism Prevention Task Force. The Task Force reviews the activities of visa holders worldwide to identify instances of birth tourism, take action to revoke visas of those who engage in or facilitate it, and dismantle the networks that profit from this abuse. The Task Force addresses the abuse by analyzing and connecting information held across the Department and other federal agencies, including the DHS.
Facilitators have turned birth tourism into a lucrative, for-profit industry. They sometimes market themselves as doulas, midwives, or wellness advocates while openly advertising “birth in the U.S.” services, visa coaching, and hospital arrangements. Some forge medical documents or coach clients to conceal their true travel purpose and avoid paying hospital bills. Online marketing promises clients “automatic citizenship” and “a future without borders.”
Thanks to the coordination of the Task Force, the Department of State is addressing birth tourism on a global scale, examining travel histories of individuals from all around the world to end this exploitation and abuse.
The Task Force has taken action by revoking more than 600 visas from foreign nationals across the globe to safeguard our nation. The State Department generally revokes visas when there are indications of a potential ineligibility. The Secretary of State has broad discretionary authority to revoke visas – and the Trump Administration is committed to exercising that authority to protect the American people and the integrity of our immigration system.
The facts are clear – birth tourism is a pervasive practice that involves nationals from countries spanning every region of the globe. Foreigners who willfully misrepresent the purpose of their travel or entry into the United States may be permanently ineligible for a U.S. visa or entry to the United States.
Citizenship is not a commodity to be acquired through calculated exploitation and evasion of the immigration laws. Foreign nationals who abuse the visa system, and those who help them do so, may lose their visa, their access, and their future in the United States.