ADVERTISEMENT
According to the report, U.S. embassies in West Africa, Europe, and North Africa uncovered evidence of coordinated operations designed to assist visa applicants seeking U.S. citizenship for their children through birth on American soil. State Department officials reportedly worked with law enforcement agencies to investigate the networks, revoke visas, and impose immigration penalties on individuals accused of participating in the schemes.
In North Africa, a U.S. embassy reportedly revoked more than 100 visitor visas issued to individuals accused of traveling primarily to give birth in the United States. Officials also said a separate network operating in West Africa had been dismantled, with visas revoked for those allegedly involved.
In messaging cited by The Daily Wire, the State Department emphasized that visitor visas cannot legally be used for the primary purpose of obtaining U.S. citizenship for a child. “A U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right,” the department said, adding that it is committed to identifying fraudulent activity, dismantling birth tourism networks, and protecting the integrity of the immigration system.
The issue comes as President Donald Trump’s executive order seeking to limit birthright citizenship continues to face legal challenges. The order, signed shortly after he returned to office in January 2025, has been temporarily blocked by several federal courts. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule on related legal questions as litigation over the policy continues.