US revokes more than 6,000 visas in crackdown on 'birth tourism'

The United States has revoked more than 6,000 visas in a crackdown on so-called birth tourism.
What was announced
In a statement on X on Thursday, 12 November 2026, the State Department said its Birth Tourism Prevention Task Force had cancelled the visas of foreign nationals found to have taken part in or facilitated the practice. It said the crackdown targets not only people who travelled to give birth but also those who helped arrange such trips, and described the practice as illicit. The department did not release a breakdown of the nationalities affected.
What is birth tourism
Birth tourism refers to travelling to the United States specifically to give birth, so that the child acquires US citizenship under the birthright citizenship provision of the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution.
Why it matters to Nigerians
Giving birth in the US has been popular among some Nigerians who can afford it, and the US has previously warned that visitor visas may be refused to applicants suspected of travelling to give birth.
- More than 6,000 visas were revoked.
- Facilitators are also targeted.
- Nationalities were not disclosed.

