- U.S. officials revoked over 100 visas in North Africa to dismantle illegal birth tourism networks.
- President Trump signed the Ending Birth Tourism executive order on August 6, 2026, targeting citizenship exploitation.
- Total visa revocations for 2026 reached 175,000 cases involving fraud, criminal activity, and immigration violations.
A U.S. embassy in North Africa revoked more than 100 visas tied to birth tourism, and the country was not identified. The action landed inside a wider crackdown. The embassy did not identify the country.
On June 10, the State Department said it had dismantled networks in West Africa, Europe, and North Africa. It said people had used visitor visas to travel primarily to give birth in the United States so their children would get U.S. citizenship. Officials also said they were working with local authorities to cut off similar operations. The trail crossed borders.
President Donald Trump signed Ending Birth Tourism on August 6, 2026, along with another order, Continuing to Protect the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship. The first order directs the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security to deny entry, revoke visas, and bar future entry for people engaging in the scheme. It defines the practice as entering the United States on a nonimmigrant visa to give birth on American soil, or facilitating that travel. The order is explicit.
The department wrote in a June 10 statement: "Under President Trump, the State Department is defending the integrity of U.S. citizenship by ending illegal birth tourism schemes. No foreigner is permitted to obtain a visitor visa for the primary purpose of acquiring U.S. citizenship for a child by giving birth in the U.S." That was its June 10 line.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, "A U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right," and pledged to use all means to protect society from people who "abuse this privilege." Federal officials said on Monday, August 10, 2026, that the administration had revoked more than 175,000 visas in 2026, most tied to criminal activity, fraud, or other violations. Tommy Pigott, the State Department principal deputy spokesperson, said the administration was defending "national sovereignty" and targeting people who "abused our immigration system or endangered national security." The total was high.
West Africa and Europe were part of it.
| Region | Action | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| North Africa | Embassy revocations | More than 100 visas |
| West Africa | Network disruption | More than 100 foreign nationals |
| Europe | Scheme dismantled | More than 400 cases and at least six facilitation companies |
| 2026 overall | Visa revocations | More than 175,000 visas |
Officials also said several people identified as fraudsters or fixers in those networks have been permanently barred from entering the United States. The penalties reached the middlemen too. Some lost travel rights for good.
Consular officers already had a 2020 denial rule
Even before the August order, consular officers could deny B-1/B-2 visitor visas if they had reason to believe childbirth was the applicant's primary purpose. The administration's push comes after the June 30, 2026, Supreme Court decision in Trump v. Barbara, which upheld birthright citizenship for children of parents temporarily in the United States. The old rule was already there.
Africa's visa map is narrowing while critics push back
The State Department is also reducing its footprint in Africa, consolidating visa processing into roughly 20 regional hubs from nearly 50. That shift has also disrupted legitimate travel. Some experts said ordinary trips to the United States could become far harder for African travelers. In Nigeria, the Nigerian Medical Association urged the local government to invest in domestic healthcare rather than rely on foreign systems for delivery. The hubs are fewer.
Federal agencies have 30 days to issue the guidance
As of August 11, 2026, federal agencies have 30 days to issue finalized operational guidance on the August 6 Executive Orders. The clock is ticking. The next instructions are due within the month.
