The United States State Department has revoked more than 600 visas belonging to foreign nationals worldwide as part of a crackdown on birth tourism, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on August 12, 2026. The revocations were carried out within one month of the Birth Tourism Prevention Task Force becoming operational, according to Rubio's post on X.
Task Force Targets Illegal Birth Tourism Networks
The task force was established to identify and dismantle organized networks that help foreigners give birth on American soil so their children can acquire US citizenship. Rubio stated that these operations extended beyond simple travel assistance, actively coaching foreign nationals on deceiving US immigration and visa officials, arranging accommodation, and in some cases forging documents to support fraudulent applications.
"American citizenship is not for sale. But elaborate birth tourism rings are profiting off the exploitation of America's laws — coaching foreigners to defraud the U.S. visa system, arranging travel and housing, and even forging documents, all to enable foreign nationals to obtain citizenship for their children," Rubio wrote.
Continued Enforcement and Wider Immigration Push
Rubio emphasized that the announced revocations are only the beginning, with the State Department committed to using all available tools to dismantle birth tourism networks and defend the integrity of US citizenship. The task force's mandate includes reviewing current visa holders' activity, identifying those involved in or benefiting from birth tourism schemes, and taking enforcement action.
The announcement is part of a broader administration effort to tighten immigration controls and close loopholes exploited by foreign nationals. This follows a separate report from August 10, 2026, where the State Department said it had cancelled over 175,000 visas since President Donald Trump returned to office for his second term. Those affected included individuals who broke visa conditions, committed crimes, called for violence against US citizens, defrauded Americans, or posed national security threats.
According to Fox News, specific examples included a foreign national charged with felony sexual battery against a mentally disabled victim, and another charged with felony kidnapping and sexual exploitation of a minor. The ongoing actions signal a sustained crackdown on visa abuse and birth tourism networks.
