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The United States has launched a nationwide crackdown on birth tourism, revoking more than 600 visas in the first phase of a new enforcement campaign aimed at stopping foreigners from travelling to the country primarily to secure American citizenship for their children.
The Birth Tourism Prevention Task Force, unveiled by the US Department of State under President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, will coordinate efforts across federal agencies to identify and dismantle networks promoting the practice.
The initiative follows two executive orders signed by President Trump directing federal agencies to deny visas, revoke travel authorisations and deport foreign nationals found to have entered the US mainly to give birth.
According to the State Department, the move is designed to protect the integrity of US citizenship and ensure that non-immigrant visas are not abused.
The task force will review travel and visa records worldwide to identify suspected cases of birth tourism and revoke visas obtained through false declarations or misrepresentation.
Authorities also warned that individuals who deliberately conceal the true purpose of their visit to the US could face permanent visa ineligibility and be barred from entering the country.
In a statement, the department said it was deploying every available tool to prevent what it described as the exploitation of America's immigration system.
"Citizenship is not a commodity to be acquired through the calculated exploitation of US immigration laws," the statement said, adding that the State Department is working closely with the Department of Homeland Security to combat the practice.
Officials noted that the Secretary of State has broad powers to revoke visas whenever evidence suggests that a holder no longer qualifies for them.
The department said investigations would extend across multiple countries to identify individuals and organised networks involved in facilitating birth tourism.
US embassies and consulates, including those in Abuja and Lagos, have also been instructed to intensify scrutiny of visa applications showing signs that applicants intend to travel to the US to give birth.
The State Department described birth tourism as a commercial enterprise in which organised operators market childbirth-related packages that often include visa assistance, accommodation and hospital arrangements.
Some facilitators, it alleged, operate under the guise of doulas, midwives or wellness consultants while encouraging clients to exploit US immigration laws.
Authorities further claimed that some operators provide fraudulent medical documents or coach applicants on how to conceal their true travel intentions and evade hospital bills.
The department also pointed to online advertisements promoting packages that promise "automatic citizenship and a future without borders" for children born in the United States.
Officials said birth tourism involves nationals from countries across every region of the world and vowed to hold both organisers and participants accountable.
The Bureau of Consular Affairs cited several recent cases that resulted in visa revocations.
In one instance, a couple allegedly claimed they were travelling for a conference and vacation but later gave birth to two children in the US. When they reapplied for visas, they reportedly failed to disclose their previous travel history and their US-born child, leading to the cancellation of their visas.
Another case involved a foreign government official who sought a visa for a one-week official visit but reportedly remained in the US for three months and gave birth before returning home. Her visa was later revoked.
In a separate incident, a traveller who indicated Orlando, Florida, as her destination instead travelled to Los Angeles and gave birth five days after arrival. Her visa was also cancelled.
The State Department said the task force would continue analysing data from both the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security to identify patterns linked to birth tourism while providing additional training to consular officers to detect fraudulent visa applications during interviews.US Cracks Down on Birth Tourism, Revokes 600+ Visas
The United States has launched a nationwide crackdown on birth tourism, revoking more than 600 visas in the first phase of a new enforcement campaign aimed at stopping foreigners from travelling to the country primarily to secure American citizenship for their children.
The Birth Tourism Prevention Task Force, unveiled by the US Department of State under President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, will coordinate efforts across federal agencies to identify and dismantle networks promoting the practice.
The initiative follows two executive orders signed by President Trump directing federal agencies to deny visas, revoke travel authorisations and deport foreign nationals found to have entered the US mainly to give birth.
According to the State Department, the move is designed to protect the integrity of US citizenship and ensure that non-immigrant visas are not abused.
The task force will review travel and visa records worldwide to identify suspected cases of birth tourism and revoke visas obtained through false declarations or misrepresentation.
Authorities also warned that individuals who deliberately conceal the true purpose of their visit to the US could face permanent visa ineligibility and be barred from entering the country.
In a statement, the department said it was deploying every available tool to prevent what it described as the exploitation of America's immigration system.
"Citizenship is not a commodity to be acquired through the calculated exploitation of US immigration laws," the statement said, adding that the State Department is working closely with the Department of Homeland Security to combat the practice.
Officials noted that the Secretary of State has broad powers to revoke visas whenever evidence suggests that a holder no longer qualifies for them.
The department said investigations would extend across multiple countries to identify individuals and organised networks involved in facilitating birth tourism.
US embassies and consulates, including those in Abuja and Lagos, have also been instructed to intensify scrutiny of visa applications showing signs that applicants intend to travel to the US to give birth.
The State Department described birth tourism as a commercial enterprise in which organised operators market childbirth-related packages that often include visa assistance, accommodation and hospital arrangements.
Some facilitators, it alleged, operate under the guise of doulas, midwives or wellness consultants while encouraging clients to exploit US immigration laws.
Authorities further claimed that some operators provide fraudulent medical documents or coach applicants on how to conceal their true travel intentions and evade hospital bills.
The department also pointed to online advertisements promoting packages that promise "automatic citizenship and a future without borders" for children born in the United States.
Officials said birth tourism involves nationals from countries across every region of the world and vowed to hold both organisers and participants accountable.
The Bureau of Consular Affairs cited several recent cases that resulted in visa revocations.
In one instance, a couple allegedly claimed they were travelling for a conference and vacation but later gave birth to two children in the US. When they reapplied for visas, they reportedly failed to disclose their previous travel history and their US-born child, leading to the cancellation of their visas.
Another case involved a foreign government official who sought a visa for a one-week official visit but reportedly remained in the US for three months and gave birth before returning home. Her visa was later revoked.
In a separate incident, a traveller who indicated Orlando, Florida, as her destination instead travelled to Los Angeles and gave birth five days after arrival. Her visa was also cancelled.
The State Department said the task force would continue analysing data from both the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security to identify patterns linked to birth tourism while providing additional training to consular officers to detect fraudulent visa applications during interviews.
