Sen. Marsha Blackburn proposes legislation to bar tourist visas for those seeking U.S. birthright citizenship through childbirth.

New Senate Bill Aims to Curb Birthright Citizenship Abuse

Senator Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., introduced new legislation Tuesday targeting the practice of birth tourism, a phenomenon that allows foreign nationals to travel to the U.S. for the primary purpose of giving birth and securing American citizenship for their children.

The proposed legislation, titled the Ban Birth Tourism Act, would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to declare inadmissible any foreign individual seeking a tourist visa with the intent of giving birth on American soil. The bill includes an exemption for travelers whose primary purpose is medical treatment unrelated to citizenship acquisition.

“For too long, foreign nationals have been exploiting our nation’s immigration laws,” Blackburn said in a press release. “The Ban Birth Tourism Act would prevent foreign nationals, including those from adversaries like Communist China and Russia, from buying American citizenship for their children.”

She added, “As President Trump works to end birthright citizenship, we need to get this bill to his desk.”

The bill arrives amid renewed efforts by the Trump administration to overhaul immigration policies. During his first term, President Trump made multiple attempts to end automatic citizenship for the children of illegal immigrants and foreign tourists. In 2020, the State Department began denying visas to suspected birth tourists—a move supported by immigration enforcement advocates.

Immigration Loophole Under Scrutiny

Birth tourism, while often overlooked, remains a sizable industry. Conservative immigration analysts estimate that more than 33,000 children are born each year in the U.S. to mothers on temporary visas. These children, as U.S. citizens, can sponsor their parents for green cards once they reach the age of 21, effectively enabling a legal backdoor to residency for entire families.

A 2015 report by the Center for Immigration Studies noted that the industry generates millions of dollars annually for agencies catering to expectant mothers—mainly from Russia and China—seeking U.S. citizenship for their babies. These services often include visa coaching, hospital arrangements, and luxury housing during their stay.

The Trump administration made headlines in 2019 with one of the largest federal crackdowns on birth tourism to date. Nearly 20 people were charged in California for running businesses that instructed clients to lie to immigration officials about the true purpose of their travel.

Blackburn’s legislation would codify such crackdowns into law, making it explicitly illegal for travelers to seek entry into the U.S. with the intention of exploiting the birthright citizenship clause. Supporters argue the move is necessary to safeguard the integrity of the immigration system and prevent abuse.

The bill has been read twice in the Senate and referred to committee, where it will undergo further review. If passed, it would mark a major step in the Trump administration’s broader effort to reform immigration policy and close legal loopholes.