The United States Department of State announced yesterday (Wednesday) that it uncovered a birth tourism network scheme of more than 100 foreign nationals in the U.S. “Birth tourists” are foreign expecting parents who travel to the United States with the goal of giving birth there, taking advantage of American birthright citizenship for their children.
The foreign nationals were using fraudulent documents and visa “fixers.” The network was dismantled and the visas were revoked. The State Department is working with local authorities on identifying and ending similar operations.
President Trump issued a statement criticizing birthright citizenship: “The United States of America cannot live with the shackles of Birthright Citizenship. It is not economically, or otherwise, sustainable, and no other Country in the World, of consequence, does it! President DJT.”
More than 400 cases of suspected birth tourism have been uncovered by an American embassy in Europe. Visas were revoked and several individuals were banned from entering the United States. In North Africa, an American embassy revoked over 100 visas of “birth tourists.”
The Department of State released a statement: “A U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right. The State Department is taking action around the world to stop this abuse, dismantle birth tourism networks, and hold accountable those who try to scam our system.”
Conservative American lawmakers came out in broad support of the measure.