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Thursday, September 24, 2026

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Visas · Thursday, September 24, 2026

Rubio announces visa bans for people who run or help commercial birth-tourism schemes

The File desk · Sep. 24, 2026, 6:29 a.m. ET

Confirmed2 primary sources

Status

Confirmed (State Department release, Sept. 23, 2026)
On Sept. 23, 2026, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States will restrict visas for owners, operators, visa coaches, and foreign medical providers who knowingly sell or enable commercial birth tourism — traveling to the United States to give birth so the child gets U.S. citizenship. He cited . Certain family members may also be covered. The same day State opened a public tip portal for suspected visa fraud.
On Sept. 23, 2026, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States will restrict visas for owners, operators, visa coaches, and foreign medical providers who knowingly sell or enable commercial birth tourism.
Birth tourism, in the announcement, means traveling to the United States to give birth so the child gets U.S. citizenship.
He cited foreign networks that coach applicants to lie on visa forms and charge tens of thousands of dollars.
The policy uses . Certain family members may also be covered.
The same day, the State Department opened a public tip portal for suspected visa fraud at travel.state.gov/reportvisafraud.
The portal note lists fake documents, sham marriages, shell companies, fabricated job offers, and birth tourism among the examples.
How we know

What is still unknown or disputed

  • How many visas will be denied; whether guidance names countries or firms.

Primary sources

Every claim in this story is drawn from the documents below. If a fetch failed, that is recorded on the card.

  1. Source 1

    Protecting the Sanctity of U.S. Citizenship: A New Visa Restriction Policy for Those Who Engage in or Facilitate Birth Tourism

    U.S. Department of State · September 23, 2026

    Today, I am announcing a new visa restriction policy under . This policy targets individuals who knowingly engage in, have engaged in, or facilitate birth tourism to the United States…

    https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesman/2026/09/protecting-the-sanctity-of-u-s-citizenshipa-new-visa-restriction-policy-for-those-who-engage-in-or-facilitate-birth-tourism/

  2. Source 2

    Launch of Online Visa Fraud Tip Portal

    U.S. Department of State · September 23, 2026

    The Department of State has launched an online tip portal for members of the public to help identify and stop suspected fraud and misuse of U.S. visas.

    https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesman/2026/09/launch-of-online-visa-fraud-tip-portal/