Pregnant Women to Be Denied US Visa Automatically Under New Rule

Matilda Omonaiye/

United States government has announced that it would no longer issue visas to pregnant woman under a new immigration rule aimed at curbing ‘birth tourism’.

Under a new rule, the US Department of State directed consular officers to automatically deny visa to women who seek to obtain citizenship for their children by giving birth to them in the country.

The new rule was announced in a statement by the US State Department yesterday.

According to a report by The New York Times, visas covered by the new rule are issued to those seeking to visit for pleasure, medical treatment or to see friends and family.

Conservatives have long railed against what they call “anchor babies,” born on American soil and used by their parents to bring in other family members. 

President Donald Trump has also criticised the constitutional provision that grants citizenship to most babies born on American soil.

It is not clear whether such “birth tourism” is a significant phenomenon or that “anchor babies” do lead to substantial immigration, but many conservatives believe both issues are real and serious. 

“Birth tourism poses risks to national security,” Carl C. Risch, Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs at the State Department, wrote in the final rule. “The birth tourism industry is also rife with criminal activity, including international criminal schemes.”

Consular officers were already unlikely to grant visa to women, who they believe were travelling to the United States solely to give birth. 

But with the new rule, the White House seems to be signalling to officers abroad that those close to delivering a child would be added to a growing list of immigrants unwelcome in the United States.

Nigeria is number three on birth tourism list in the United States after Russia and China.

On Tuesday the US announced plans to impose fresh visa restrictions on seven countries including Nigeria. 

Trump’s administration said the move was necessary to prevent potential acts of terrorism, as countries on the list don’t adequately vet their travellers to America.