The United States has uncovered birth tourism fraud networks operating in Africa, leading to the revocation of more than 100 visas, according to the State Department.
Officials said foreign nationals used fake documents and visa “fixers” to gain entry into the US, with the primary aim of giving birth so their children could obtain American citizenship.
One of the schemes was traced to a US embassy in West Africa, though the specific country was not disclosed.
“We shut it down, revoked these foreign nationals’ visas, and are coordinating with local authorities to systematically identify and cut off any similar operations,” the department said in a statement.
In North Africa, another US embassy revoked over 100 visas linked to birth tourism. Investigators also reported that in Europe, more than 400 suspected cases have been identified since 2024, tied to at least six companies that coached applicants, arranged housing, and set up delivery plans.
The crackdown comes amid heightened scrutiny of birth tourism, a practice strongly opposed by President Donald Trump.
Shortly after taking office in January, Trump signed an executive order ending birthright citizenship, though the legality of the order remains uncertain as courts have blocked its implementation.
The US Constitution guarantees citizenship to “all persons born or naturalised in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof.” Critics argue that foreign nationals exploit this provision by travelling to the US to give birth.
The State Department has warned that violators will face strict penalties. Last year, the US embassy in Nigeria cautioned applicants against travelling with the sole intention of giving birth, stressing that such visa requests would be denied if consular officers suspected birth tourism motives.
This rewrite sharpens the headline, organizes the narrative into clear sections discovery, enforcement, broader crackdown, and political/legal context while keeping the language concise and impactful.
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