Trump Launches Task Force on Birth Tourism, Revokes Over 600 Visas
The United States government has launched a new inter-agency task force to tackle birth tourism, with more than 600 visas revoked in the first round of enforcement.
The Birth Tourism Prevention Task Force was announced by the US Department of State under President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as part of efforts to prevent foreigners from travelling to the country primarily to give birth and secure US citizenship for their children.
The development followed two executive orders signed by Trump directing federal agencies to deny visas, revoke travel authorisations and deport foreign nationals who enter the United States for the purpose of giving birth.
The Department of State said the initiative was aimed at protecting the integrity of US citizenship and ensuring that non-immigrant visas are used for their intended purposes.
The task force will operate globally, reviewing visa and travel histories to identify suspected cases of birth tourism. It will also revoke visas where individuals are found to have misrepresented the purpose of their travel and target networks allegedly facilitating the practice.
The department warned that foreigners who deliberately misrepresent the purpose of their trip or entry into the US could become permanently ineligible for a US visa or admission into the country.
The State Department said the initiative would involve close collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security to combat birth tourism and strengthen the integrity of the US immigration system.
It said consular officers at US embassies and consulates, including those in Abuja and Lagos, had been directed to pay closer attention to visa applications showing indications that applicants intended to travel to the US to give birth.
The department described birth tourism as a commercial industry involving organised networks that market childbirth-related services to prospective parents.
According to the department, some facilitators operate under labels such as doulas, midwives and wellness advocates while advertising packages that include visa assistance, accommodation and hospital arrangements.
It also alleged that some operators provide false medical documents or coach clients on how to conceal their actual travel intentions and avoid hospital bills.
The State Department said online advertisements promote packages promising automatic citizenship and future access to the United States.
It said the task force would work with US embassies and consulates to identify possible misrepresentation during visa interviews and analyse travel data to uncover patterns and networks linked to birth tourism.
The Bureau of Consular Affairs cited several cases involving applicants who allegedly concealed their real purpose for travelling to the United States.
In one case, a couple reportedly used a conference and holiday as a cover for travelling to the US, where they gave birth to two children. When they later applied for visas again, they allegedly concealed their previous travel history and the fact that they had a child born in the US. Their visas were subsequently revoked.
In another case, a foreign government official reportedly applied for a one-week official trip but remained in the US for three months and gave birth before leaving the country. Her visa was also revoked.
A third traveller reportedly applied for a visa to visit Orlando, Florida, but travelled instead to Los Angeles and gave birth five days after arriving in the US. Her visa was subsequently revoked.
The Department of State said the task force would continue analysing data from the State Department and Department of Homeland Security to identify individuals and networks involved in birth tourism.
It added that consular officers would receive further training to detect possible misrepresentation during visa interviews and enforce the new measures globally.