The United States has revoked more than 600 visas from foreign nationals worldwide as part of a sweeping new campaign targeting birth tourism, the State Department announced on Wednesday, 13 August. The move follows an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on 6 August, directing federal agencies to identify, penalise, and permanently bar individuals who travel to the US on non-immigrant visas for the purpose of giving birth on American soil.

Birth Tourism Prevention Task Force

The State Department has established a Birth Tourism Prevention Task Force to systematically review the travel histories and activities of visa holders globally. The task force draws on data from the State Department, the Department of Homeland Security, and other federal agencies to identify both travellers and the networks that facilitate their travel.

According to a State Department fact sheet, the task force is mandated to revoke visas and dismantle commercial operations that profit from the practice. Secretary of State Marco Rubio holds broad discretionary authority to revoke visas under existing law.

What the Executive Order Authorises

President Trump's executive order of 6 August defines birth tourism as the entry of a foreign national on a non-immigrant visa specifically for the purpose of giving birth in the United States. The order authorises the secretaries of state and homeland security to deny or revoke visas, prevent entry, remove travellers, and permanently bar those found to have engaged in the practice. Humanitarian and national-interest exemptions may be granted on a case-by-case basis.

How the Industry Operates

The State Department said facilitators have turned birth tourism into a lucrative commercial industry. Some operators reportedly market themselves as doulas, midwives, or wellness advocates while offering packages that include US birth services, visa coaching, and hospital arrangements. According to the department, certain operators forge medical documents or coach clients to conceal their true purpose of travel, and some help clients avoid paying hospital bills. Online advertisements, the department noted, promise 'automatic citizenship' and 'a future without borders.'

Cases Uncovered by Consular Officers

Officials cited several specific cases to illustrate the scale of the problem. In one instance, a couple used a conference and a shopping holiday as cover stories while travelling to give birth to two children in the United States across two separate visa applications; they also concealed the existence of one child during the second application. Both visas were revoked.

In another case, a foreign government official applied for a visa for a one-week official visit but remained in the country for three months and gave birth before departing. A third traveller claimed she was travelling to Orlando for a holiday but instead went to Los Angeles and gave birth just five days after arriving. Both had their visas revoked.

Constitutional Context

The crackdown intersects directly with the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution, ratified in 1868, which grants citizenship to all persons born or naturalised in the United States and subject to its jurisdiction. This provision has long formed the constitutional basis for birthright citizenship and has been a point of legal contention in debates over immigration reform. The Trump administration's executive order does not repeal the amendment but targets the visa pathway that makes birth tourism possible in the first place.

With more than 600 visas already revoked and a dedicated task force now operational, the US government's approach signals a sustained enforcement posture that is likely to intensify in the months ahead.