U.S. State Department revokes visas in global effort to curb birth tourism

Washington, D.C.- The United States Department of State has intensified efforts to combat so-called “birth tourism,” revoking hundreds of tourist visas worldwide in recent weeks as part of a campaign aimed at preventing the misuse of U.S. citizenship laws.

According to the State Department, foreign nationals are not eligible for visitor visas if their primary purpose for traveling to the United States is to give birth so that their child automatically acquires U.S. citizenship under the principle of birthright citizenship. While the policy does not create new legal restrictions, it reinforces existing immigration rules and grants consular officers broader discretion to deny visas when they suspect applicants intend to travel primarily for childbirth or have concealed information about their pregnancy.

Birth tourism refers to the practice of traveling to the United States to give birth and secure citizenship for a child born on U.S. soil. Although the practice itself is not illegal, authorities have linked some cases to immigration fraud schemes. Official estimates indicate that approximately 80,500 births between 2016 and 2024 were associated with foreign women who temporarily entered the country for this purpose, accounting for about 0.24% of all U.S. births during that period.

The crackdown has already led to significant visa revocations, with consular officials in Europe identifying more than 400 suspected cases since 2024 and a U.S. diplomatic mission in North Africa canceling more than 100 visas linked to such schemes. Authorities stressed that pregnancy alone is not grounds for visa denial; rather, the focus is on whether applicants accurately disclose the true purpose of their travel.

The stricter approach comes alongside broader visa screening measures that allow consular officers to consider factors that could indicate a potential burden on public services. Immigration experts note that the debate surrounding birthright citizenship extends beyond birth tourism and could have wider implications for immigrant families living in the United States.