RismadarVoice Reporters
June 10, 2026
The United States government has stepped up efforts to combat what it describes as illegal “birth tourism,” targeting foreign nationals who travel to the country primarily to secure American citizenship for their children.
In a statement released on Wednesday through its official social media channels, the U.S. Department of State said the initiative is part of the Trump administration’s broader efforts to safeguard the integrity of U.S. citizenship and immigration laws.
According to the department, foreign visitors are not permitted to obtain U.S. visas with the sole intention of giving birth in the country to secure citizenship benefits for their children.
The State Department disclosed that a U.S. embassy in West Africa recently uncovered an alleged birth tourism network involving more than 100 individuals. The operation reportedly relied on fraudulent documentation and visa facilitators to help applicants obtain entry into the United States.
Authorities said the scheme has since been dismantled, the visas of those involved revoked, and investigations launched in collaboration with local authorities to identify and eliminate similar operations.
In Europe, U.S. officials reported uncovering more than 400 suspected birth tourism cases since 2024. Investigators linked the cases to at least six companies accused of helping applicants prepare misleading responses during visa interviews, arranging accommodation in the United States, and coordinating childbirth-related travel plans.
The department said the companies’ activities were disrupted, affected visas were cancelled, and several individuals implicated in the operation were permanently barred from entering the United States.
A similar enforcement action was carried out in North Africa, where more than 100 visas were revoked from parents alleged to have travelled to the U.S. primarily to give birth and obtain citizenship for their children.
The State Department said consular officers worked alongside law enforcement agencies and utilised data analytics to identify patterns of abuse and trace networks facilitating the practice.
Reiterating its position, the department stressed that a U.S. visa is a privilege rather than an automatic entitlement and warned that individuals found abusing the immigration system would face consequences.
It added that efforts are ongoing worldwide to dismantle birth tourism operations, prevent visa fraud, and hold accountable those attempting to exploit U.S. immigration policies.
The latest crackdown highlights Washington’s continued focus on tightening immigration enforcement and strengthening oversight of visa applications across multiple regions.
