The United States government has intensified efforts to combat birth tourism, revoking more than 600 visas issued to foreign nationals who allegedly used the practice to secure U.S. citizenship for their children.
The announcement was made by the U.S. Department of State in a post on X on June 10, where it said the move is part of efforts to protect the integrity of American citizenship.
According to the department, obtaining a visitor visa primarily for the purpose of giving birth in the United States so that a child can acquire citizenship is prohibited.
The State Department revealed that more than 100 visas linked to birth tourism were revoked in West Africa, while over 400 visas were cancelled in Europe and another 100 in North Africa.
“Under President Trump, the State Department is defending the integrity of U.S. citizenship by ending illegal birth tourism schemes,” the agency stated.
It added: “No foreigner is permitted to obtain a visitor visa for the primary purpose of acquiring U.S. citizenship for a child by giving birth in the U.S.”
The department disclosed that a U.S. embassy in West Africa uncovered an organised network involving more than 100 foreign nationals who allegedly used fraudulent documents and visa facilitators to secure visas for birth tourism purposes. The visas were subsequently revoked, the operation dismantled, and local authorities engaged to help identify similar cases.
In Europe, investigators reportedly linked more than 400 suspected birth tourism cases since 2024 to at least six companies. The firms were accused of coaching applicants on how to respond during visa interviews, arranging accommodation in the United States, and coordinating childbirth plans.
According to the State Department, the visas connected to the scheme were cancelled, the operations shut down, and several individuals involved in the fraud permanently barred from entering the United States.
The department also said a U.S. embassy in North Africa revoked more than 100 visas issued to parents who travelled to the U.S. mainly to give birth and obtain citizenship benefits for their children.
“Consular officers working with law enforcement and using data analytics identified several networks abusing the system and put a stop to it,” the department said.
