The U.S. Department of State has escalated its global crackdown on “birth tourism schemes,” revoking hundreds of visas across Europe and Africa as a result.
In a series of Wednesday X posts, the State Department said U.S. embassies overseas uncovered international birth tourism networks spanning West Africa, Europe, and North Africa that used fraudulent documents, visa “fixers,” and coaching services to help foreign nationals obtain U.S. visas for the purpose of giving birth in the United States. Birth tourism refers to traveling to another country primarily to give birth so a child can receive automatic citizenship.
“Under President Trump, the State Department is defending the integrity of U.S. citizenship by ending illegal birth tourism schemes,” the department stated. “No foreigner is permitted to obtain a visitor visa for the primary purpose of acquiring U.S. citizenship for a child by giving birth in the U.S.”
The department also provided another example uncovered by an embassy in Europe, which “identified more than 400 suspected birth tourism cases since 2024.”
“Investigators traced them to at least six companies that coached applicants on what to say in their visa interview, arranged U.S. housing, and set up delivery plans,” it continued.
The scheme has since been shut down, and their visas were revoked. The State Department added that additionally, several “fraudsters” were banned permanently from entering the United States.
In North Africa, a U.S. embassy revoked more than 100 visas for parents participating in birth tourism. The department also said that consular officers, through “working with law enforcement and using data analytics,” had identified and stopped several networks that were abusing the system.
“A U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right. The State Department is taking action around the world to stop this abuse, dismantle birth tourism networks, and hold accountable those who try to scam our system,” the State Department concluded.
Hellbound and Down 