The United States has revoked more than 600 visas from foreign nationals over the past month as part of a major crackdown on alleged birth tourism, marking one of the Trump administration's most significant immigration enforcement actions since returning to office.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the visa cancellations followed investigations by the newly established Birth Tourism Prevention Task Force, which has been tasked with identifying suspected visa fraud, dismantling organised birth tourism networks and revoking visas of individuals found potentially ineligible under US immigration laws.
The move comes days after President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at curbing birth tourism and strengthening enforcement against individuals and organisations accused of exploiting the US visa system. According to the US State Department, the initiative focuses on preventing visa fraud rather than altering constitutional birthright citizenship protections.
Over 600 Visas Revoked in One Month
Announcing the enforcement action, Rubio said the Birth Tourism Prevention Task Force had reviewed visa records and taken action against more than 600 foreign nationals worldwide within its first month of operation.
He said the task force would continue identifying individuals suspected of misrepresenting the purpose of their travel and organisations allegedly facilitating such activities.
The State Department has not disclosed the nationalities of the affected visa holders or the countries where most cancellations occurred.
'American Citizenship Is Not for Sale': Marco Rubio
Rubio described birth tourism as an organised commercial business that allegedly exploits US immigration laws for financial gain.
He said some operators coach applicants on how to conceal their real travel intentions, arrange accommodation and logistics, and in certain cases allegedly provide fraudulent documentation to secure visas.
"American citizenship is not for sale," Rubio said, adding that the State Department would continue using all available legal tools to dismantle networks facilitating visa fraud.
According to officials, the crackdown is aimed at protecting the integrity of the US immigration system rather than targeting lawful visitors.
What Is Birth Tourism?
Birth tourism refers to the practice of foreign nationals travelling to the United States primarily to give birth so that their child automatically receives US citizenship under the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution.
While children born on American soil generally qualify for citizenship regardless of their parents' immigration status, US authorities argue that deliberately concealing travel intentions during visa applications may constitute immigration fraud.
The current enforcement campaign focuses on alleged misuse of visitor visas rather than changing constitutional citizenship rights.
New Task Force to Track Visa Fraud
The Birth Tourism Prevention Task Force has been created to coordinate investigations across multiple federal agencies, including the US State Department and the Department of Homeland Security.
Officials said the unit analyses travel histories, visa records and intelligence from multiple government databases to identify suspicious travel patterns and possible visa abuse.
The administration believes a coordinated approach will enable authorities to identify organised networks operating across multiple countries rather than treating each case individually.
Supreme Court Ruling Still Protects Birthright Citizenship
The visa crackdown comes despite a significant legal setback for the Trump administration earlier this year.
In June, the US Supreme Court struck down Trump's executive order seeking to restrict birthright citizenship, ruling that the Fourteenth Amendment continues to guarantee automatic citizenship to nearly all children born on US soil.
As a result, the latest enforcement measures do not change citizenship laws but instead focus on visa eligibility and alleged fraudulent applications.
Executive Order Signals Tougher Immigration Enforcement
President Trump's August 6 executive order directed federal agencies to increase scrutiny of birth tourism and strengthen action against facilitators suspected of exploiting US immigration laws.
The administration argues that organised birth tourism businesses have transformed the practice into a commercial enterprise by marketing services to expectant parents seeking US citizenship for their children.
Officials have indicated that further visa reviews and enforcement actions are expected in the coming months.
Visa Revocation Is Not a Criminal Conviction
The State Department clarified that visa cancellations do not automatically indicate criminal wrongdoing.
A visa may be revoked whenever authorities determine that a holder could be ineligible under US immigration regulations or may have obtained the visa through misrepresentation.
Officials have not announced whether any of the more than 600 cases will lead to criminal investigations or prosecutions.
As the Trump administration expands its immigration enforcement agenda, the Birth Tourism Prevention Task Force is expected to continue reviewing visa applications and investigating suspected networks operating across international borders.
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