The Department of State claims to have busted multiple transnational “birth tourism” schemes aimed at allowing foreign nationals to have a baby on U.S. soil in order to collect an American passport on their way back home.In a series of statements posted Wednesday, the State Department reiterated its commitment to enforcing the U.S. statutes against birth tourism, announcing that three separate investigations found coordinated operations bringing expectant mothers into the country.“Consular officers – working with law enforcement and using data analytics – identified several networks abusing the system and put a stop to it,” the State Department wrote. “A U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right. The State Department is taking action around the world to stop this abuse, dismantle birth tourism networks, and hold accountable those who try to scam our system.”
According to the department, one network in West Africa was shut down after an investigation by a local embassy uncovered more than 100 foreign nationals working to produce fraudulent documents and manipulate visas to move pregnant women into the country “to get U.S. citizenship for their children.” They reported a similar scheme in North Africa.
