US dismantles West African birth tourism network involving more than 100 people

The United States Department of State says a US embassy in West Africa has dismantled a birth tourism network involving more than 100 foreign nationals, as part of a wider global crackdown on visa fraud and abuse of the US immigration system.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the department said the operation uncovered what it described as a sophisticated scheme in which individuals allegedly used fraudulent documents and visa facilitators to obtain US visitor visas with the intention of giving birth in the United States.

According to the State Department, the network relied on visa "fixers" who assisted applicants in securing travel documents and arranging travel to the US so that children born there could obtain American citizenship under the country's birthright citizenship laws.

"A US embassy in West Africa uncovered a sophisticated birth tourism network of more than 100 foreign nationals using fraudulent documents and visa 'fixers' to get themselves visas in order to get US citizenship for their children," the department said.

It added that the visas of those involved had been revoked and that US officials were working with local authorities to identify and dismantle similar operations.

The State Department did not identify the West African country where the network operated but said efforts were under way to prevent comparable schemes from emerging elsewhere in the region.

Birth tourism refers to the practice of travelling to another country primarily to give birth there so that a child can acquire citizenship. The United States grants citizenship to most children born on its soil, regardless of their parents' nationality.

Reiterating its position, the State Department said obtaining a visitor visa primarily to give birth in the United States breaches visa regulations.

"No foreigner is permitted to obtain a visitor visa for the primary purpose of acquiring US citizenship for a child by giving birth in the US," the statement said.

US authorities said the West African operation was one of several cases uncovered worldwide. In Europe, officials have identified more than 400 suspected birth tourism cases since 2024, linked to at least six companies accused of coaching visa applicants, arranging accommodation and coordinating childbirth-related travel.

The department said visas connected to those cases had been revoked, while several people accused of facilitating the schemes had been permanently barred from entering the United States.

In a separate operation in North Africa, a US embassy revoked more than 100 visas issued to parents who had allegedly travelled to the United States primarily to give birth.

The State Department said consular officials, working alongside law enforcement agencies and using data analytics, had identified multiple networks abusing the visa system.

It said efforts to combat birth tourism and visa fraud would continue globally, describing access to a US visa as "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," it added.