US Department of State targets 'birth tourism' to protect citizenship integrity
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
The United States Department of State has announced measures to combat "illegal birth tourism schemes" by foreign nationals seeking US citizenship for their children via travel visas. The department stated that under President Trump, this policy aims to defend the integrity of US citizenship, clarifying that visitor visas are not permitted for the primary purpose of giving birth in the US to secure citizenship for a child. The department reported shutting down a "sophisticated birth tourism network" in West Africa involving over 100 foreign nationals allegedly using fraudulent documents. In Europe, a US embassy identified over 400 suspected birth tourism cases since 2024, linked to companies coaching applicants and arranging logistics. Additionally, a US embassy in North Africa revoked over 100 visas from parents who allegedly traveled to the US primarily for birth tourism. The department emphasized that a US visa is a privilege, not a right, and that it is working globally to dismantle these networks and hold those abusing the system accountable.
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