New Visa Restrictions Target Birth Tourism
The State Department has decided to refuse visas to individuals involved in birth tourism operations, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He made this announcement on Wednesday, citing a provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act that permits the Secretary to declare a foreign national inadmissible based on foreign policy considerations.
This new policy specifically targets those who own, operate, or manage commercial birth tourism businesses. It also affects “visa fixers” who help applicants provide false information and foreign healthcare professionals who assist in the arrangements, including the misuse of Medicaid. Family members associated with these individuals may also be impacted.
Rubio highlighted that these networks are quite open about their operations, guiding clients through deceptive visa applications and charging substantial fees—sometimes tens of thousands of dollars—for facilitating births in the U.S.
He stated firmly, “The United States will not allow foreigners to exploit our immigration system.” However, it’s important to note that pregnant visitors can still enter the United States; the restrictions are aimed at those deemed to be actively participating in commercial enterprises related to birth tourism.
The State Department has been addressing this issue since the summer, with its Birth Tourism Prevention Task Force revoking over 600 visas within its first month. Rubio emphasized in August that American citizenship should not be treated as something that can be bought.
This announcement coincided with President Donald Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, although the new policy does not specify any particular country.
In a related legislative move, Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) proposed a bill to classify the recruitment or sheltering of a pregnant foreign national for birth tourism as human trafficking, with penalties of up to 15 years per violation. “America is not the world’s maternity ward,” she stated.
These measures follow the Supreme Court’s decision on June 30, which rejected Trump’s order on birthright citizenship, placing the focus on the State Department and Homeland Security for tackling birth tourism.
According to research director Steven Camarota from the Center for Immigration Studies, estimates suggest that between 200,000 and 300,000 children have been born to birth tourists in the past decade.
