US Cracks Down on Birth Tourism with New Visa Restrictions

The US government has introduced new visa restrictions to curb birth tourism, a practice where foreign nationals travel to the country solely to give birth and secure American citizenship for their child. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that participants and commercial networks involved in this practice will face penalties under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

According to Rubio, foreign commercial birth tourism networks have exploited the US immigration system by coaching applicants to lie on visa applications and charging tens of thousands of dollars for arranging births on American soil. He stated that these networks are targeting people who knowingly engage in or facilitate birth tourism, including owners, operators, and managers of commercial birth tourism networks, as well as intermediaries who coach applicants.

The restrictions also cover foreign medical providers who knowingly facilitate such travel and fraudulent use of Medicaid. Additionally, the State Department has launched an online portal for members of the public to report suspected visa fraud, which includes participation in or facilitation of birth tourism.