US sets up task force to end birth tourism, revokes over 600 visas worldwide

By Nkiruka Nnorom

The United States government has established a new inter-agency task force to clamp down on birth tourism, a practice where foreign nationals travel to the US primarily to give birth and secure American citizenship for their children.

The Birth Tourism Prevention Task Force, announced today by the Department of State under President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has already revoked over 600 visas across different regions of the world in the first round of action.

The new move came after Trump signed two executive orders the previous week directing federal agencies to deny visas, revoke travel authorisation and deport foreign nationals who enter the country for the purpose of giving birth.

According to a Fact Sheet released by the Office of the Spokesperson, the move was part of a broader effort to defend the integrity of US citizenship and ensure that non-immigrant visas were used only for their lawful purposes.

Officials said the task force will operate globally, with a mandate to review the travel and visa history of applicants, identify cases of birth tourism, revoke visas of individuals found culpable, and dismantle networks that profit from facilitating the practice.

The Department warned that any foreigner who willfully misrepresents the purpose of their travel or entry into the United States may be permanently ineligible for a US visa or entry.

“Under President Trump and Secretary Rubio’s leadership, the Department of State is using all available tools to defend the integrity of US citizenship. “Citizenship is not a commodity to be acquired through the calculated exploitation of US immigration laws.

“The Department of State is working closely with the Department of Homeland Security, DHS, to combat birth tourism and protect the integrity of the US immigration system,” the statement said.

The Department explained that visas are generally revoked when there are indications of potential ineligibility, and emphasized that the Secretary of State has broad discretionary authority to take such actions.

“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 in order to end this exploitation and abuse,” the Fact Sheet stated.

Consular officers at US embassies and consulates, including in Abuja and Lagos, have been directed to intensify scrutiny of visa applications where there are red flags suggesting the intent to travel for childbirth.

The State Department described birth tourism as having evolved into a lucrative, for-profit industry with organized networks marketing services to prospective parents.

According to the Department, some facilitators present themselves as doulas, midwives, or wellness advocates while openly advertising birth in the US packages online. The services often include visa coaching, accommodation, and hospital arrangements, it said.

The Department further alleged that some operators go as far as forging medical documents or coaching clients to lie about their travel purpose and to avoid paying hospital bills. Online adverts, it said, promise clients “automatic citizenship and a future without borders.”

“The facts are clear – birth tourism is a pervasive practice that involves nationals from countries spanning every region of the globe. “The Department is taking action to dismantle these networks and hold all participants accountable,” the statement noted.

The Bureau of Consular Affairs cited several cases that illustrate what it called widespread patterns of deception.

In one instance, a couple used a conference and a vacation trip as cover to travel to the US and gave birth to two children. On their second visa application, they lied about their purpose of travel and concealed that they already had a child born in the US. Both visas have now been revoked.

In another case, a foreign government official applied for a one-week official visa but stayed for three months and gave birth in the US before departing. Her visa was also revoked.

A third traveler applied for a visa to vacation in Orlando, Florida, but instead traveled to Los Angeles and gave birth five days after arrival. That visa was revoked as well.

The Department said that the Birth Tourism Prevention Task Force will continue to analyze data across the Department of State and DHS to identify patterns and networks. It will also work with US embassies to train consular officers on detecting misrepresentation during visa interviews.

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