Birth tourism crackdown: US revokes more than 600 visas; Marco Rubio says ‘American citizenship is not for sale’

The United States has revoked more than 600 visas from foreign nationals in the past month as part of a crackdown on "birth tourism," according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The revocations followed the establishment of a Birth Tourism Prevention Task Force by the State Department to identify individuals abusing the U.S. visa system and dismantle networks facilitating such practices.

Rubio emphasized that "American citizenship is not for sale" in a statement on X. The crackdown stems from an August 6 executive order by President Donald Trump, who has been intensifying immigration enforcement efforts. Birth tourism typically involves foreign nationals traveling to the U.S., often while pregnant, to give birth and secure U.S. citizenship for their child under current laws.

The State Department noted that facilitators have turned this practice into a "for-profit industry," offering services such as visa coaching, travel arrangements, housing, and hospital coordination. Some operators allegedly encourage applicants to conceal the true purpose of their visit, forge medical documents, or provide false information on visa applications.

The Birth Tourism Prevention Task Force is analyzing travel and visa data from the State Department and other federal agencies to identify potential instances of birth tourism and take appropriate action. The task force is reviewing visa holders' travel histories to detect potential cases of birth tourism and take action against those involved in facilitating it.

The State Department highlighted several cases where applicants attempted to disguise their actual travel intentions. For instance, a couple allegedly used a conference and vacation-shopping trips as a cover to travel to the U.S. for the purpose of giving birth to two children, subsequently having their visas revoked. Another case involved a foreign government official who obtained a visa for a one-week official trip but stayed in the U.S. for three months and gave birth before departing, resulting in the revocation of her visa.

A third case featured a traveler who claimed she intended to vacation in Orlando but ended up in Los Angeles and gave birth five days after arrival, leading to the revocation of her visa as well. The State Department warned that people who knowingly misrepresent the purpose of their travel or entry into the U.S. could face permanent visa or entry ineligibility.

Rubio stated that the administration will continue to utilize available tools to dismantle networks supporting birth tourism, emphasizing that "citizenship is not a commodity to be acquired through calculated exploitation and evasion of the immigration laws."