WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has launched a new federal effort aimed at ending what his administration describes as birth tourism, targeting foreign nationals who travel to the United States primarily to give birth so their children can obtain American citizenship. The action is part of the administration’s broader campaign to tighten immigration enforcement and reshape federal policies surrounding citizenship.
The measure directs federal agencies to strengthen enforcement of immigration and visa regulations involving travelers believed to be entering the country primarily for childbirth. The administration maintains that commercial operations have developed around the practice, providing travel arrangements, accommodations and medical services for foreign women planning to give birth in the United States.
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The initiative comes amid an ongoing national legal battle over birthright citizenship. The Trump administration has sought to restrict automatic citizenship for some children born in the United States, generating constitutional challenges centered on the 14th Amendment and the extent of presidential authority over citizenship policy.
The latest measures could lead to greater scrutiny of some visa applications and international travelers arriving at American ports of entry. Consular and immigration officers are expected to play an important role in determining whether travelers are seeking admission primarily for childbirth as the administration moves forward with its new enforcement strategy.
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