Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a new visa restriction policy Wednesday targeting foreign nationals who knowingly participate in or help facilitate commercial birth tourism in the United States. The policy expands the Trump administration’s effort to prevent foreign visitors from traveling to the country primarily to give birth so their children obtain U.S. citizenship.
The restrictions apply to owners, operators and managers of commercial birth-tourism networks, as well as so-called visa “fixers” accused of coaching applicants to provide false information during the visa process. Foreign medical providers who knowingly facilitate such travel and individuals who assist these operations can also be covered.
Rubio said some commercial networks charge foreign clients tens of thousands of dollars to arrange travel and births in the United States. The State Department says some operators coach clients to misrepresent the purpose of their trips when applying for visas or speaking with U.S. immigration officials.
The new restrictions are being implemented under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. According to the State Department, certain family members of people targeted under the policy may also be subject to restrictions.
“By restricting visa issuance of those who both engage in and profit from this fraud, we are sending a clear message,” Rubio said in announcing the policy. He said the administration intends to use existing immigration authorities to protect the visa system and prevent commercial operations from profiting from birth tourism.
Under current State Department guidance, traveling to the United States primarily to give birth for the purpose of obtaining U.S. citizenship for a child is not a permissible basis for receiving a visitor visa. Medical treatment can be a legitimate reason for obtaining a visitor visa, but birth tourism for citizenship purposes is specifically excluded.
The move follows an executive order President Trump signed in August directing the State Department and Department of Homeland Security to take additional action against birth tourism. The order authorized measures that could include denying visas or travel authorization, revoking existing visas and taking action against individuals and organizations that facilitate birth-tourism operations.
The State Department subsequently established a task force to coordinate its birth-tourism enforcement efforts with the Department of Homeland Security. Officials said the initiative would use visa screening, immigration enforcement and other existing authorities to identify suspected commercial networks.
The administration’s latest policy focuses not only on foreign nationals traveling to the United States to give birth, but also on the businesses and intermediaries that help arrange those trips. That includes people accused of helping applicants conceal their intentions from U.S. consular and immigration officials.
Rubio said the visa restrictions are intended to make it more difficult for commercial birth-tourism networks to operate internationally and access the United States. The State Department did not identify specific individuals affected by the restrictions in its announcement Wednesday.
The post Marco Rubio Announces New Visa Restrictions Targeting Birth Tourism Networks appeared first on Real News Now.
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