RismadarVoice Reporters, August 13, 2026
The United States government has established an inter-agency task force to combat birth tourism and has revoked more than 600 visas worldwide as part of the first phase of the crackdown.
The Birth Tourism Prevention Task Force was announced by the US Department of State under President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The initiative targets foreign nationals who travel to the United States primarily to give birth and obtain American citizenship for their children.
The move followed two executive orders signed by Trump directing federal agencies to deny visas, revoke travel authorisations and deport foreigners who enter the country for the purpose of giving birth.
According to the State Department, the initiative is aimed at protecting the integrity of US citizenship and ensuring that non-immigrant visas are used for their approved purposes.
The task force will operate globally and review applicants’ travel and visa histories to identify suspected cases of birth tourism. It will also revoke visas where violations are established and target networks accused of facilitating the practice.
The department warned that foreigners who deliberately misrepresent the purpose of their travel or entry could face permanent ineligibility for a US visa or entry into the country.
US consular officers, including those at embassies and consulates in Abuja and Lagos, have also been directed to increase scrutiny of visa applications where there are indications that an applicant intends to travel to the US to give birth.
The State Department described birth tourism as a growing commercial industry involving organised networks that advertise packages to prospective parents. Such services may include visa assistance, accommodation and arrangements with hospitals.
Officials also alleged that some facilitators coach clients to misrepresent their travel intentions, falsify medical documents or avoid hospital bills.
The department cited several cases in which travellers allegedly concealed their intention to give birth in the US. In one case, a couple reportedly used a conference and vacation as the stated purpose of their trip before giving birth to two children in the country.
In another case, a foreign government official who applied for a one-week official trip allegedly remained in the US for three months and gave birth before leaving.
A third traveller reportedly applied for a visa to visit Orlando but travelled instead to Los Angeles, where she gave birth five days after arrival.
The State Department said the visas in the cited cases had been revoked.
Officials said the task force would continue analysing data from the State Department and Department of Homeland Security to identify patterns and networks associated with birth tourism.
The initiative will also involve training US consular officers to detect possible misrepresentation during visa interviews as Washington intensifies its efforts to curb the practice.
