The State Department has significantly intensified its crackdown on so-called “birth tourism,” reportedly uncovering over 600 related visa cases worldwide. The State Department stated that applying for U.S. visitor visas with the primary purpose of having a child acquire U.S. citizenship through childbirth is unacceptable and announced that it is expanding measures to revoke visas and restrict entry.
According to a recent State Department announcement, numerous organized networks facilitating birth tourism have been uncovered, primarily in Europe and Africa. In Europe alone, over 400 cases related to birth tourism have been identified since 2024, and investigations revealed that at least six agencies profited by handling everything from visa interview preparation and securing housing in the U.S. to making hospital appointments and establishing birth plans.
The State Department announced that it has blocked the activities of these agencies and imposed permanent entry bans on some of the individuals involved. Large-scale visa fraud cases have also been uncovered in Africa. In West Africa, it was revealed that over 100 individuals attempted to enter the United States using forged documents and visa brokers, resulting in the cancellation of their visas; it is also reported that over 100 visas were canceled in North Africa.
In a statement, the State Department emphasized that “it is contrary to the spirit of U.S. immigration law for foreign nationals to apply for visitor visas with the primary purpose of their children obtaining U.S. citizenship,” adding that “U.S. visas are privileges, not rights.” This measure aligns with the hardline immigration policies pursued by President Donald Trump since his re-election.
The Trump administration has consistently stated its position that the abuse of birthright citizenship must be prevented and is pursuing executive orders to restrict the practice of granting automatic citizenship to the children of undocumented immigrants or temporary residents.
The related legal issues are currently awaiting a ruling by the Supreme Court. Conservative think tanks argue that the birth tourism industry has grown by exploiting the birthright provisions of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Significant concerns are being raised, particularly regarding Chinese birth tourism networks.
Peter Schweitzer, Director of the Center for Government Accountability, revealed in congressional testimony last March that the institute is tracking at least 1,000 birth tourism agencies suspected of being linked to the Chinese Communist Party. He argued that between 750,000 and 1.5 million babies may have been born in the U.S. to Chinese parents over the past 12 to 13 years, emphasizing the need for a review from a national security perspective.
Some media outlets have reported that there are hundreds of Chinese-owned agencies specializing in arranging birth tourism in the U.S. These agencies are known to receive hefty fees for providing accommodation, connecting clients with medical services, and even handling citizenship-related paperwork.
Meanwhile, experts pointed out that while giving birth in the U.S. is not problematic, concealing the purpose of the birth or submitting false documents during the visa application process could result in punishment for visa fraud.
The State Department announced that it plans to continue expanding its crackdown on birth tourism organizations and related visa fraud.