Trump says West African birth tourism ring busted, over 100 visas revoked
President Donald Trump’s administration on Wednesday announced that a U.S. embassy in West Africa busted a sophisticated birth tourism ring and revoked over 100 visas fraudulently obtained wth fake documents.
“A U.S. embassy in West Africa uncovered a sophisticated birth tourism network of more than 100 foreign nationals using fraudulent documents and visa ‘fixers’ to get themselves visas in order to get U.S. citizenship for their children,” the U.S. Department of State said on Wednesday. “We shut it down, revoked these foreign nationals’ visas, and are coordinating with local authorities to systematically identify and cut off any similar operations.”
It added, “Under President Trump, the State Department is defending the integrity of U.S. citizenship by ending illegal birth tourism schemes. No foreigner is permitted to obtain a visitor visa for the primary purpose of acquiring U.S. citizenship for a child by giving birth in the U.S.”
In Europe, a U.S. embassy identified more than 400 suspected birth tourism cases since 2024, while another U.S. embassy in North Africa revoked over 100 visas for “birth tourist” parents who came to the United States primarily to give birth so their children would get U.S. citizenship.
Mr Trump’s government has cracked down on immigration into the U.S., citing a high rate of visa overstays and identity fraud, among other issues.
Earlier in the month, secretary of state Marco Rubio approved a reduction in the number of embassies and consulates authorised to process visas for those seeking to travel to the U.S. from Africa.
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