U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has initiated an operation aimed at uncovering networks that aid expectant foreign nationals in entering the country for the purpose of giving birth and securing citizenship for their children. This information comes from Reuters, citing an internal ICE memorandum.
Agents have been tasked with investigating the activities of groups that assist applicants in misrepresenting information during the visa application process and in coordinating their travel arrangements. High priority is being given to instances involving fraud, financial infringements, and the involvement of facilitators who leverage ostensibly legal entry methods.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has clarified its stance. Childbirth on United States soil is legal. Nevertheless, the agency intends to crack down on infractions of federal law connected with the organization of such trips. DHS declined to offer commentary on any specific ongoing investigations.
A regulation established in 2020 prohibits the use of tourist or business visas when the primary objective is securing American citizenship for the newborn. This rule was implemented during the initial presidential term of Donald Trump. Individuals participating in these schemes face prosecution under fraud statutes.
The Center for Immigration Studies has provided an estimate regarding the scale of this phenomenon. Annually, between 20,000 and 25,000 women entered the country yearly during the 2016–2017 period. Compared to the 3.6 million births recorded in the U.S. in 2025, these instances represent a minor fraction.
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