The US has announced a new visa restriction policy aimed at people who run or help arrange “birth tourism,” where foreign women travel to America mainly so their baby is born there and gets US citizenship.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the move in a press statement on September 23, 2026.

What the policy says

Rubio said commercial networks abroad are making money by selling US citizenship. According to him, they promote their services, teach clients to give false answers on visa applications, and charge tens of thousands of dollars to organise births on American soil.

The new rule falls under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. It covers anyone who knowingly takes part in birth tourism, has done so in the past, or helps others do it. The statement names these groups :

  • Birth tourism business owners, operators, and managers
  • Visa “fixers” who coach applicants to lie
  • Foreign doctors and hospitals that knowingly help with such trips, including cases where the US Medicaid system is used wrongly
  • Anyone else who supports or enables these networks

    • The statement also says some family members of those targeted may be affected too.

    The government’s reasoning

    Rubio said the administration wants to protect the value of US citizenship, keep public benefits and taxpayer money from being misused, and safeguard national security. He said the idea is to go after people who commit and profit from this kind of fraud, and to make clear that foreigners cannot game the US immigration system.

    What is birth tourism?

    Birth tourism means travelling to another country to have a baby there. Usually the goal is a passport for the child, since the US grants citizenship to almost everyone born on its soil. For some families, access to better healthcare is also a reason.

    US rules already do not allow a person to enter on a tourist visa with the main aim of giving birth. The emphasis on the companies and assistants that support the trips is new.

    How big is the problem?

    The numbers are unclear. As the BBC reported, President Trump said in August that hundreds of thousands of babies have been born this way. But the US government does not officially track how many women come on tourist visas to deliver.

    The nearest figure comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It recorded about 9,500 births in 2024 to mothers whose home address was outside the US. That number covers all foreign-resident mothers, not only those who came as birth tourists.

    Also in August, Trump announced executive orders to limit birthright citizenship for certain groups.

    What happens next?

    The statement doesn’t say how many people the policy will hit or how officials will find them. For now, it works as a warning to agents, fixers and medical providers that helping with these trips could cost them their US visas, and possibly affect their families as well.

    Applying for a US visa? Keep up with the latest visa restrictions and policy changes with Visabud.