More than 100 visas revoked as US uncovers birth tourism scheme
The United States Department of State has revealed that a U.S. embassy in West Africa dismantled a birth tourism network involving more than 100 foreign nationals as part of a broader campaign against visa fraud and abuse of the U.S. immigration system.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, June 10, the department said the investigation uncovered an organised scheme in which applicants allegedly relied on fraudulent documentation and visa intermediaries to obtain U.S. visitor visas for the purpose of giving birth in the United States.
According to the State Department, the operation involved visa facilitators who assisted applicants in securing travel documents and arranging travel plans aimed at obtaining U.S. citizenship for children born on American soil.
Authorities said the network was shut down, the visas of those involved were revoked, and efforts are underway with local authorities to identify and dismantle similar operations in the region.
While the department did not identify the specific West African country where the network operated, it noted that cooperation with local authorities is continuing to prevent comparable schemes from emerging elsewhere.
The disclosure forms part of a wider crackdown on birth tourism, a practice where foreign nationals travel to the United States primarily to give birth so their children can automatically acquire U.S. citizenship under birthright citizenship laws.
The State Department reiterated that obtaining a visitor visa mainly for childbirth and citizenship purposes violates U.S. immigration regulations.
Officials also revealed that similar investigations have been conducted in other parts of the world. In Europe, more than 400 suspected birth tourism cases linked to at least six companies have been identified since 2024. These companies allegedly coached visa applicants, arranged accommodation, and coordinated travel related to childbirth in the United States.
Authorities said visas connected to those cases have been cancelled, while some individuals involved in facilitating the schemes have been permanently barred from entering the United States.
In a separate operation in North Africa, a U.S. embassy reportedly revoked more than 100 visas issued to parents who travelled to the United States primarily to give birth.
The State Department said consular officers, working alongside law enforcement agencies and using data analysis tools, have uncovered and disrupted several networks exploiting the visa system.
The department stressed that it will continue pursuing visa fraud and birth tourism operations globally, emphasizing that a U.S. visa is a privilege and not an entitlement.
About The Author
