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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Crime & Justice

US bans Nigerians, others in ‘birth tourism’ visa fight

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement New plan
  • The U.S. Department of State is implementing new measures to stop "birth tourism" schemes, aiming to protect the integrity of U.S. citizenship.
  • Foreign nationals are prohibited from obtaining visitor visas primarily for the purpose of giving birth in the U.S. to secure citizenship for their children.
  • The department has shut down identified networks, revoked visas, and banned individuals involved in fraudulent birth tourism operations.

The United States Department of State is taking a firm stance against "birth tourism," announcing new policies to prevent foreign nationals from using visitor visas to obtain U.S. citizenship for their children by giving birth within the country. The department stated that these measures are crucial for defending the integrity of U.S. citizenship.

Under President Trump, the State Department is defending the integrity of U.S. citizenship by ending illegal birth tourism schemes.

— U.S. Department of StateAnnouncing the policy to combat birth tourism.

Recent operations have uncovered sophisticated networks engaged in birth tourism. In one instance, a U.S. embassy in West Africa identified a network involving over 100 foreign nationals who allegedly used fraudulent documents and visa facilitators. The department reported shutting down this operation, revoking the involved individuals' visas, and coordinating with local authorities to dismantle similar schemes.

No foreigner is permitted to obtain a visitor visa for the primary purpose of acquiring U.S. citizenship for a child by giving birth in the U.S.

— U.S. Department of StateClarifying the prohibition on using visitor visas for birth tourism.

In Europe, a U.S. embassy identified more than 400 suspected birth tourism cases since 2024. Investigations linked these cases to at least six companies accused of coaching applicants for visa interviews, arranging U.S. accommodations, and organizing delivery plans. The department stated it revoked visas and permanently banned several fraudsters from entering the United States. Similarly, a U.S. embassy in North Africa revoked over 100 visas belonging to parents suspected of traveling primarily to give birth.

We shut it down, revoked these foreign nationals’ visas, and are coordinating with local authorities to systematically identify and cut off any similar operations.

— U.S. Department of StateDescribing actions taken against a discovered birth tourism network.

The State Department emphasized that a U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right. Consular officers are employing data analytics and collaborating with law enforcement to identify and stop individuals and networks abusing the visa system. The department is committed to dismantling these birth tourism networks and holding accountable those attempting to exploit the system.

We shut it down, revoked their visas, and permanently banned several fraudsters from travelling to the United States ever again.

— U.S. Department of StateDetailing actions taken against birth tourism operations in Europe.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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