The U.S. State Department announced Wednesday the establishment of a Birth Tourism Prevention Task Force that has revoked more than 600 visas from foreign nationals accused of exploiting immigration laws to give birth in the United States.
The task force, formed in response to a recent Supreme Court decision, is reviewing visa holders worldwide and dismantling networks facilitating birth tourism. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated in a post on X that elaborate birth tourism rings are profiting off the exploitation of America’s laws, including coaching foreigners to defraud the visa system, arranging travel and housing, and forging documents.
Immediate enforcement actions
The State Department’s fact sheet details that the task force has already revoked visas from individuals suspected of engaging in or facilitating birth tourism. Among the cases cited:
- A foreign couple twice lied on visa applications, claiming attendance at a conference and a vacation before giving birth to two children in the U.S. Their visas were revoked.
- A foreign national applied for a tourist visa to Orlando but traveled to Los Angeles, where she gave birth five days after arrival. Her visa was subsequently revoked.
Policy context and legal framework
The crackdown follows a June 30 Supreme Court decision that overturned the Trump administration’s attempt to end automatic citizenship for children born in the U.S. to parents who are illegal immigrants or temporary visitors. While the administration’s latest action does not seek to alter the constitutional guarantee of birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment, it targets individuals accused of using fraud or deception to obtain visas for the purpose of giving birth in the country.
The task force is collaborating with the Department of Homeland Security and consular officers at U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide. According to the State Department, federal agencies have reported widespread examples of deception in visa applications, including falsified purposes of travel and forged documents.
Scope of enforcement
The State Department reported that more than 100 visas were revoked by a U.S. embassy in the North Africa region as part of the crackdown. The task force is using data from the State Department, DHS, and other federal agencies to identify and dismantle birth tourism networks.
Rubio emphasized that the goal is to defend the integrity of U.S. citizenship and ensure non-immigrant visas are used only for their lawful and intended purposes. The enforcement effort reflects the administration’s broader push to curb what officials describe as the exploitation of citizenship laws through fraudulent means.