The United States government has withdrawn more than 6,000 visas from foreign nationals engaged in or supporting the practice known as "birth tourism." This involves traveling to the U.S. primarily to give birth so the newborn can automatically obtain American citizenship.
On Thursday, the Department of State announced that its Birth Tourism Prevention Task Force has surpassed this number of visa revocations, intensifying efforts under the Trump administration to crack down on those facilitating or partaking in such activities.
"We are actively identifying those involved and holding them accountable for this illicit practice," the statement emphasized.
The current figures represent a significant increase from previous reports. In October, it was disclosed that the State Department had begun reviewing visa applications and flight records starting in 2020 to identify potential birth tourism cases.
This review, initially reported by Politico, covered data from January 24, 2020, through August 1, 2026, with instructions for U.S. embassies and consulates to forward suspicious cases to the specialized group established in August of this year.
At that time, reports indicated over 2,300 visas had been revoked. Later, on October 20, the White House revealed that at least 4,000 cancellations were linked to birth tourism. The current count now exceeds 6,000.
The U.S. policy not only targets women traveling to give birth but also includes individuals and entities that organize, fund, or facilitate these trips, such as intermediaries and commercial operators.
In September, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced new visa restrictions against those involved in or profiting from birth tourism, under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
This policy affects owners, operators, and managers of commercial networks organizing such travel, as well as intermediaries advising visa applicants to provide false information and foreign medical providers who assist with these practices or fraudulently use Medicaid, as explained by the State Department.
Additionally, these restrictions may extend to certain family members of those involved.
According to official visitor visa regulations, traveling to the U.S. primarily to give birth for the purpose of obtaining citizenship for a child is not a permissible reason for using a tourist visa.
This does not imply that all pregnant women are barred from traveling to the U.S., nor does giving birth during a legal stay automatically constitute a visa violation.
The restrictions focus on the intent of the trip, adherence to visa conditions, and any false statements made to authorities.
The latest announcement is part of the Trump administration's broader efforts to curb birth tourism, against which the president signed an executive order on August 6.
However, a federal judge blocked parts of this order concerning birthright citizenship in September, citing a conflict with constitutional protections of that right.
Understanding U.S. Visa Revocations for Birth Tourism
What is "birth tourism"?
"Birth tourism" refers to the practice of traveling to another country to give birth, so the child obtains citizenship of that country. In the U.S., this is often done to secure American citizenship for the newborn.
How many visas have been revoked due to birth tourism?
As of the latest reports, over 6,000 visas have been revoked by the United States government for involvement in birth tourism.
Who is affected by the visa restrictions?
The restrictions impact not only the women traveling to give birth but also those who organize, finance, or facilitate these trips, including intermediaries and commercial operators.