US Targets Birth Tourism With New Visa Restrictions

Washington — The United States has announced new visa restrictions aimed at people who knowingly participate in or facilitate birth tourism, along with a public portal for reporting suspected visa fraud.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the restrictions would apply to individuals and commercial networks that arrange travel to the United States for the purpose of obtaining U.S. citizenship for children through birth. Certain family members may also be subject to the restrictions.

“Foreign commercial birth tourism networks have exploited the US immigration system to sell US citizenship for profit,” Rubio said in a statement.

He said such networks have coached foreign nationals to provide false information on visa applications and charged tens of thousands of dollars to arrange births in the United States for the purpose of securing citizenship for children.

Rubio said the policy was being implemented under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Those covered include owners, operators and managers of commercial birth tourism networks, as well as intermediaries who coach visa applicants to commit fraud. The policy also applies to foreign medical providers who knowingly facilitate such travel and the fraudulent use of Medicaid, according to the State Department.

Other individuals who knowingly support or enable commercial birth tourism could also face visa restrictions.

Rubio said the measures apply to people who knowingly engage in, have previously engaged in or facilitate birth tourism. The statement did not provide details of individual cases.

“Certain family members may also be covered by these restrictions,” the department said, without specifying which relatives could be affected.

Rubio said the policy was intended to protect U.S. citizenship, public benefits, taxpayers and national security.

Separately, the State Department launched an online portal allowing members of the public to report suspected visa fraud and misuse.

The department said examples of possible fraud include falsified documents and travel plans, sham marriages arranged by brokers, shell companies, fabricated job offers and participation in or facilitation of birth tourism.

The Bureau of Consular Affairs is conducting fraud detection and prevention efforts to identify people attempting to enter the United States through fraudulent means or for illegal purposes, the department said.

Possible actions include visa revocations and referrals for further law enforcement investigation.

The department said many of the tens of thousands of people it has identified and held accountable for visa fraud during President Donald Trump’s second term were discovered through tips from the public. It did not provide a breakdown of those cases or the actions taken.

“This new online tool provides a convenient and reliable way for the public to submit crucial information for prompt review and action,” the department said.

People with information about suspected fraud were directed to the State Department’s visa fraud reporting portal.

Birth tourism generally refers to travel to another country for the purpose of giving birth and securing citizenship for the child. Commercial operators have marketed packages that include travel, accommodations and childbirth arrangements.

The U.S. debate over birth tourism is tied to citizenship by birth under the 14th Amendment, which states that people born or naturalized in the United States and subject to its jurisdiction are citizens. (Source: IANS)