U.S. State Department cracks down on birth‑tourism networks in Africa and Europe, revokes hundreds of visas

The U.S. State Department announced a coordinated effort to dismantle birth‑tourism networks operating across Africa and Europe. Officials said the schemes enable foreign parents to obtain visitor visas and give birth in the United States so their children automatically receive citizenship, a practice that can later help parents secure green cards.

Investigations uncovered more than 100 foreign nationals using fraudulent documents and visa “fixers” in West and North Africa, leading to the revocation of over 100 visas. In Europe, a U.S. embassy identified more than 400 suspected cases since 2024, linked to at least six companies that coach travelers on how to secure visas without disclosing birth‑tourism intent. The department stated, “We shut it down, revoked their visas, and permanently banned several fraudders from traveling to the United States ever again.”

The crackdown builds on visa‑screening rules introduced during the Trump administration, which allow consular officers to deny visas when the primary purpose of travel is childbirth. Analysts warn the large‑scale enforcement could tighten visa scrutiny for legitimate travelers from the affected regions, including countries such as Namibia, where applicants may face longer processing times and higher proof burdens.