The United States government has cancelled hundreds of tourist visas over birth tourism.
This is after investigations by the US State Department unearthed elaborate networks promoting thia type of visa fraud in Africa.
“Under President Trump, the State Department is defending the integrity of US citizenship by ending illegal visa schemes. No foreigner is permitted to obtain a visitor visa for the primary purpose of acquiring citizenship for a child by giving birth in the US,” a statement by the department said.
The statement further said that a US embassy in West Africa had uncovered a sophisticated birth tourism network of more than 100 foreign nationals using fraudulent documents and visa “fixers” to get themselves visas in order to get citizenship for their children.
“We shut it down, revoked these foreign nationals’ visas, and are coordinating with local authorities to systematically identify and cut off any similar operations,” the department said.
“In Europe, a US embassy identified more than 400 suspected 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. We shut it down, revoked their visas, and permanently banned several fraudsters from traveling to the United States ever again.”
The rise of birth tourism appeared to be more prevalent in West and North of Africa. According to the State Department, one embassy in North Africa revoked over 100 visas for “birth tourist” parents who came to the United States primarily to give birth so their children would get citizenship.
“Consular officers – working with law enforcement and using data analytics – identified several networks abusing the system and put a stop to it,” the statement said.
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“A US 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.”
