The Trump administration on Wednesday announced new visa restrictions targeting individuals who “engage in or facilitate” birth tourism, accusing them of exploiting the US immigration system for financial gain.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the measure is aimed at people who knowingly participate in or facilitate arrangements that allow foreign nationals to travel to the United States primarily to give birth and secure US citizenship for their children.
“By restricting visa issuance of those who both engage in and profit from this fraud, we are sending a clear message: The United States will not allow foreigners to exploit our immigration system and violate the sanctity of US citizenship,” Rubio said in a statement.
According to Rubio, those targeted include owners, operators and managers of commercial birth tourism networks, visa “fixers” who coach applicants to commit fraud, and foreign medical providers who knowingly facilitate birth tourism and fraudulent use of the Medicaid system.
The restrictions will also apply to other individuals who support, assist or enable commercial birth tourism activities.
Birth tourism refers to the practice of travelling to the United States primarily to give birth so that the child can obtain US citizenship.
The announcement follows executive orders signed by President Donald Trump last month seeking to restrict birthright citizenship for certain children born in the United States to non-citizen parents, as well as entry linked to birth tourism.
The orders came after the US Supreme Court struck down a key part of Trump’s January 20, 2025 executive order that sought to deny automatic citizenship to certain children born to non-citizens in the United States.
