Trump birth tourism ban puts visa-seeking foreign parents on notice

The White House has emphasized President Donald Trump's executive order that bans "birth tourism," a practice where foreign nationals travel to the U.S. to give birth and obtain U.S. citizenship for their children. Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Homeland Security Adviser Stephen Miller stated that the ban is in effect and prevents obtaining visas for this "fraudulent purpose." Miller called the measure one of the Trump administration's most significant actions, deeming it crucial for ending a "grave and egregious abuse of the American system."

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That practice of birth tourism is, as of the signing of this order, hereby banned. “What that means is that no one in the world is anymore allowed to obtain a visa for this fraudulent purpose.”

The administration defines "birth tourism" as foreign nationals traveling to the U.S. with the intent to give birth there. Miller explained that consular officers will deny visas if applicants are found to be using a tourist visa with the intent to give birth in the U.S. He asserted that "hundreds of thousands" of people exploit this practice.

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I would put this in the top 3 in terms of importance because it ends what has been one of the gravest and most egregious abuses of the American system.

However, the article notes a discrepancy in the number of individuals involved. During a Supreme Court hearing, Solicitor General John Sauer stated, "No one knows for sure" how many people engage in birth tourism. Sauer cited media reports estimating the number between 1.1 million and 1.5 million, with some reports focusing on Russian elites using such companies in Miami.

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If you’re telling a consular officer you’re here as a tourist, but your true purpose and intent is to go to a baby mill, give birth and try to mint an American citizen while you’re here and you’re committing a fraud against the American government.

The executive order targets birthright citizenship, a policy that grants citizenship to nearly anyone born in the U.S. This action follows the Supreme Court's rejection of a previous attempt by the Trump administration to end birthright citizenship via executive order.

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No one knows for sure.