R-Tenn. Sen. Marsha Blackburn of the group aims to introduce new laws on Tuesday to dismantle the multi-million-dollar birth tourism industry that will allow foreigners to use the American immigration system to ensure automatic citizenship for children.
The Prohibition of Tourism Act, introduced in the US Senate, amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to declare that it can tolerate foreigners seeking tourist visas for the primary purpose of giving birth in the US.
These births automatically trigger US citizenship for children, a long critical loophole that opens the door to future families' sponsored migration.
Senate Republicans introduce bills to reform birthright citizenship following Trump's controversial order
R-Tenn. Sen. Marsha Blackburn of the group aims to introduce new laws on Tuesday to dismantle the multi-million-dollar birth tourism industry that will allow foreigners to use the American immigration system to ensure automatic citizenship for children. (Anna Money Maker/Getty Images)
The Blackburn bill, read twice and referred to the committee, includes provisions to protect legitimate medical travelers. These cases are not blocked if the main reason for entry is treatment rather than citizenship acquisition.
“For too long, foreigners have been using our country's immigration laws and have come to the United States just to use this system to earn birth and citizenship for their children,” Blackburn said in a press release.
“The Prohibition of Tourism Act will prevent foreigners, including people from enemies like communist China and Russia, from buying American citizenship for their children.
This push comes as the Trump administration strengthens its focus on restoring immigrant integrity in the second term of the president. During his first term, President Trump repeatedly vowed to end the automatic citizenship of illegal immigrants and tourist children.
California man has been declared a “birth tourism” plan for wealthy Chinese women
This push comes as the Trump administration strengthens its focus on restoring immigrant integrity in the second term of the president. During his first term, President Trump repeatedly vowed to end the automatic citizenship of illegal immigrants and tourist children. (Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images)
In 2020, the State Department under his administration began refusing visas to tourists suspected of giving birth. This is welcomed by immigration enforcement advocates.
Birth tourism is far from the fringe phenomenon. According to conservative immigration policy analysts, the industry accounts for at least 33,000 births per year for women on temporary visas. At age 21, these children can legally sponsor their parents for green cards and provide backdoors to the US immigration system.
A 2015 report by the Center for Immigration Research estimated that the practice generates millions of dollars for businesses that specialize in bringing pregnant foreigners to the United States, primarily from Russia and China.
President Trump moved to end his birthright citizenship during his second administration. (Katie Muir Stankiewicz/Exchange Club of Mooresville and Lake Norman)
One of the largest federal crackdowns to date, the former Trump administration department in 2019 accused nearly 20 individuals in Southern California as it operates an extensive birth tourism network aimed at Chinese citizens.
Prosecutors accused the companies that coach clients of lying to immigration officials about the purpose of the trip.
The Blackburn bill codifies the law's acceptability of travelers seeking to exploit this loophole, ensuring that birthright citizenship cannot be used as tickets for the system's game.
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Senator Marsha Blackburn's office introduced Fox News digitally in a press release Tuesday.
