US cancels 600 visas over birth tourism as Democrats move to block new immigration rule
Washington: The United States has revoked more than 600 visas of foreign nationals as part of a new crackdown on birth tourism, the State Department said on Wednesday.
The department said it has established a Birth Tourism Prevention Task Force to identify foreign nationals who travel to the US to give birth and those who facilitate such trips. The task force is examining visa holders’ travel histories and information from the State Department, Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies.
According to the State Department, the initiative aims to identify birth tourism operations, revoke visas and dismantle networks that profit from arranging such travel. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has broad discretionary authority to revoke visas when potential ineligibility is identified.
The crackdown follows an executive order issued by President Donald Trump on August 6. The order defines birth tourism as travelling to the US on a non-immigrant visa primarily to give birth and authorises officials to deny or revoke visas, prevent entry and remove individuals involved in the practice.
The State Department alleged that some facilitators market birth tourism as a business, offering visa guidance, hospital arrangements and other services. Officials also cited cases in which travellers allegedly concealed their actual purpose of visiting the US.
Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers have introduced legislation aimed at blocking federal funds from being used to enforce a separate Trump administration immigration rule concerning the “public charge” test.
The Protect American Values Act was introduced by Senators Michael Bennet and Mazie Hirono and Congresswoman Judy Chu. The rule, scheduled to take effect on September 18, could make it harder for some immigrants using government benefits to obtain green cards.
Democrats have criticised the measure, arguing that it gives immigration officials excessive discretion and could penalise immigrants seeking a better life for their families.
