Birth Tourism: US Imposes New Visa Restrictions For Applicants

Related stories

What Europe’s response to a no-deal with Trump could look like

Brussels is preparing for a no-deal scenario as uncertainty...

Oil Prices Climb Amid U.S.-EU Trade Hopes and Russian Export Restrictions

Oil prices climbed Friday amid U.S.-EU trade progress, a...

U.S. Refiners Rethink Crude Sourcing After Chevron Gets Venezuela Green Light

U.S. refiners are reassessing Latin American crude sourcing strategies...

Presidency, Kwankwaso Clash Over Claims of Northern Marginalization

• Kwankwaso: "Tinubu is Starving North of Development, Prioritizing...

Natasha Faces Full Suspension as Senate Goes on Recess

By Abiola Olawale  Indications have emerged that suspended Senator Natasha...

The Trump administration is coming out with new visa restrictions aimed at restricting “birth tourism,” in which women travel to the US to give birth so their children can have a coveted US passport.

The State Department planned to publicise the rules Thursday, according to two officials with knowledge of the plans who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. The rules would make it more difficult for pregnant women to travel on a tourist visa. In one draft of the regulations, they would have to clear an additional hurdle before obtaining the visa, convincing a consular officer that they have another legitimate reason to come to the US.

The Trump administration has been restricting all forms of immigration, but the president has been particularly plagued by the issue of birthright citizenship — anyone born in the US is considered a citizen, under the Constitution. He has railed against the practice and threatened to end it, but scholars and members of his administration have said it’s not so easy to do.

Regulating tourist visas for pregnant women is one way to get at the issue, but it raises questions about how officers would determine whether a woman is pregnant, to begin with, and whether a woman could get turned away by border officers who suspect she maybe just by looking at her.

Consular officers right now aren’t told to ask during visa interviews whether a woman is pregnant or intends to become so. But they would have to determine whether a visa applicant would be coming to the US primarily to give birth.

Birth tourism is a lucrative business in both the US and abroad. American companies take out advertisements and charge up to $80,000 to facilitate the practice, offering hotel rooms and medical care. Many of the women travel from Russia and China to give birth in the US has been cracking down on the practice since before Trump took office.

Although there are scattered cases of authorities arresting operators of birth tourism agencies for visa fraud or tax evasion, coming to the US to give birth is fundamentally legal. And women are often honest about their intentions when applying for visas and even show signed contracts with doctors and hospitals.

There are no figures on how many foreign women travel to the US specifically to give birth. The Center for Immigration Studies, a group that advocates for stricter immigration laws, estimated that in 2012, about 36,000 foreign-born women gave birth in the US, then left the country.

The draft rule is “intended to address the national security and law enforcement risks associated with birth tourism, including criminal activity associated with the birth tourism industry,” a State Department spokesperson said. (Associated Press)

Hamilton Nwosa
Hamilton Nwosa
Hamilton Nwosa is an experienced, and committed communication, business, administrative, data and research specialist . His deep knowledge of the intersection between communication, business, data, and journalism are quite profound. His passion for professional excellence remains the guiding principle of his work, and in the course of his career spanning sectors such as administration, tourism, business management, communication and journalism, Hamilton has won key awards. He is a delightful writer, researcher and data analyst. He loves team-work, problem-solving, organizational management, communication strategy, and enjoys travelling. He can be reached at: hamilton_68@yahoo.com

Subscribe

- Never miss a story with notifications

- Gain full access to our premium content

- Browse free from up to 5 devices at once

Latest stories

NDN
Latest News
What Europe's response to a no-deal with Trump could look likeOil Prices Climb Amid U.S.-EU Trade Hopes and Russian Export RestrictionsU.S. Refiners Rethink Crude Sourcing After Chevron Gets Venezuela Green LightPresidency, Kwankwaso Clash Over Claims of Northern MarginalizationNatasha Faces Full Suspension as Senate Goes on RecessGovernor mourns as Emir of Gusau, Ibrahim Bello, Dies at 712027: INEC Receives 10 New Applications, Brings total to 144 Seeking Registration As PartiesAnxieties as Congo's Ex-President Faces Trial in Court High-Stakes Treason, Murder ChargesBillionaires’ Fortunes Plummet, Elon Musk, Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani Lose $19.8 Billion in Single DayAkpabio vs Natasha: High-Stakes Drama as Immigration Officers Seize, Release Natasha's Passport at Abuja Airport Peter Obi’s Dangerous Game By AZU ISHIEKWENEFrench president sues Candace Owens over claims his wife is a manTotalEnergies Warns of Looming Oil GlutFrench Company Secures Ownership of DStv, GOtv in $3 Billion MultiChoice Deal2027 Calculations: Tinubu's Minister, Nentawe Yilwatda Takes Over as APC National Chairman, Succeeds Ganduje
X whatsapp