US revokes over 6k visas over birth tourism

The Trump administration is doubling down on immigration curbs, with the Department of State’s Birth Tourism Prevention Task Force revoking over 6,000 visas from foreigners who engaged in or facilitated birth tourism."We are identifying and holding accountable everyone involved in this illicit practice," the US State Department, in a post on X, said.— StateDept (@StateDept) Birth tourism refers to travelling to the US to give birth, often with the aim of securing US citizenship for the child. The latest action signals a wider crackdown on both participants and facilitators, including those who help arrange such travel.What Trump’s order allowsThe executive order signed by President Donald Trump on August 6 defines birth tourism as entering the US on a nonimmigrant visa to give birth, or helping another foreign national enter the country for that purpose.It directs the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security to take steps to prevent birth tourists from receiving visas or other travel authorisations. Officials may also revoke existing visas, deny entry and remove people who engage in the practice.The order also targets the wider birth-tourism industry. Companies, organisations and individuals in the US or abroad who facilitate such travel may face action under the new policy.The order says birth tourism operators often advertise US childbirth services, promise citizenship or access to public benefits and coach clients to misrepresent their travel plans to consular and border officials. It argues that such schemes exploit temporary visa categories to secure long-term immigration benefits.However, the order allows the State Department or DHS to grant exemptions on humanitarian grounds or when a person’s entry is considered to be in the US national interest.