WASHINGTON — The U.S. State Department says American officials have disrupted several overseas networks allegedly helping foreign nationals obtain U.S. visitor visas for the primary purpose of giving birth in the United States.
According to a report by The Daily Wire, U.S. diplomatic posts in Europe, North Africa and West Africa identified suspected birth-tourism operations and worked with law enforcement to investigate the activity. Authorities reportedly revoked visas and imposed immigration-related penalties on individuals believed to have participated.
In Europe, investigators reportedly identified more than 400 suspected cases dating to 2024. Officials alleged that at least six companies helped applicants prepare for consular interviews, arrange travel and accommodations, and coordinate plans for childbirth in the United States.
The State Department reportedly revoked visas associated with the investigation and permanently barred several individuals from returning to the United States.
Officials also reported enforcement actions in North Africa, where more than 100 visitor visas were allegedly revoked after authorities determined that the applicants had traveled primarily to give birth in the United States. A separate operation in West Africa was also reportedly dismantled.
The department emphasized that visitor visas are not intended to be used primarily for obtaining U.S. citizenship for a child.
“A U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right,” the department said, according to the report, while stressing its commitment to combating fraud and protecting the integrity of the U.S. immigration system.
The issue has also surfaced in litigation in Texas. State officials sued De’Ai Postpartum Care Center in Houston, alleging that the facility helped facilitate travel for Chinese nationals seeking to give birth in the United States. The lawsuit claims the center was involved in the births of more than 1,000 children. The allegations have been disputed by the defendants in court.
The latest enforcement actions come amid a broader national debate over birthright citizenship and immigration policy.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January 2025 seeking to restrict birthright citizenship in certain circumstances. Federal courts have since blocked implementation of the order, prompting an ongoing legal battle over the scope of the constitutional guarantee of citizenship.
The dispute has elevated birth tourism from an immigration-enforcement issue into a broader constitutional and political controversy.
For the State Department, however, officials say the immediate focus remains on visa fraud and preventing U.S. immigration privileges from being exploited through organized commercial operations.
As investigations continue, authorities are expected to examine additional cases and networks while determining whether further visa cancellations or immigration penalties are warranted.
