People who help organise birth tourism trips to the United States could now face visa restrictions under a new policy announced by the Trump administration.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio unveiled the measure on Wednesday, targeting individuals and businesses that knowingly arrange or assist commercial birth tourism.
The policy covers owners, operators and managers of birth tourism networks. It also extends to visa “fixers” who allegedly train applicants to provide false information or commit fraud during the visa process.
Foreign healthcare providers could also be affected if they knowingly assist birth tourism arrangements or related misuse of the US Medicaid system, according to Rubio.
The secretary said the restrictions are being introduced under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the US Immigration and Nationality Act.
Rubio accused commercial birth tourism operators of turning the US immigration system into a business by charging foreign nationals large sums to arrange trips and childbirth in America.
He said the administration would use the new visa policy against people who knowingly participate in, support or profit from such operations.
The State Department added that certain family members of individuals covered by the policy could also become subject to the restrictions.
Birth tourism describes travel to the United States primarily for the purpose of giving birth so that a child can obtain US citizenship. The State Department already says birth tourism is not an acceptable purpose for securing a visitor visa.
The latest announcement follows other immigration measures introduced by the Trump administration. Officials have increasingly focused on visa screening, fraud prevention and the use of immigration benefits.
The policy, however, does not say that every foreign national who travels to the US and gives birth will automatically face the new restrictions.
Instead, the measure is aimed specifically at people who knowingly facilitate, participate in or make money from commercial birth tourism operations.
The administration said the move is intended to protect the US immigration system, prevent abuse of public benefits and address activities it considers fraudulent.
SHARE.
