The United States government is tightening visa rules to stop “birth tourism”, a practice where pregnant women travel to the US on visitor visas to give birth and get American citizenship for their babies.

In a statement posted June 10, 2026, the US State Department said a US embassy in West Africa recently broke up a network of over 100 foreign nationals. The group allegedly used fake documents and “visa fixers” to help pregnant women enter the US. All their visas have been revoked. 

Authorities say they are now working with local law enforcement to shut down similar operations. Anyone caught hiding a pregnancy during a visa interview risks a lifetime ban from entering the US.

The crackdown hits close to home for Nigeria. Data from the Center for Immigration Studies ranks Nigeria as the 4th largest country for birth tourism globally, behind China, Taiwan, Korea, and Turkey. An estimated 33,000 Nigerian women travel to the US each year to give birth.

Research shows about 40,000 children are born in the US annually to non-citizen mothers who flew in specifically for birthright citizenship. Families often pay agencies between $40,000 and $100,000 for the service. The global birth tourism market is now worth $315.5 million and growing.

For a lot of Nigerian families, the decision goes beyond passports. Nigeria accounts for 28.5% of global maternal deaths, with 993 deaths per 100,000 live births. A Nigerian woman has a 1 in 19 lifetime risk of dying from pregnancy or childbirth, compared to 1 in 4,900 in developed countries.

Beyond safety, many seek better education, job opportunities, and stability for their children. For some, giving birth abroad feels like a matter of survival.

The State Department’s move comes as birthright citizenship faces challenges in US courts.

 On January 20, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order to deny citizenship to children born to non-citizens or undocumented parents. Federal courts blocked it. The Supreme Court heard arguments on April 1, 2026, and is expected to uphold the 14th Amendment’s birthright guarantee. 

With the law still intact, the government is focusing on visa enforcement, stopping travelers before birth can happen in the US.

Since July 1, 2025, Nigeria, China, Russia, Iran, and Uganda have faced extra scrutiny for birth tourism, especially on B-1/B-2 visitor visas. Consular officers now ask detailed questions about medical travel and pregnancy. Visas can be denied or revoked on suspicion alone. Lying about travel plans or concealing a pregnancy means a lifetime US ban.

This comes as Nigerian travelers already face high visa rejection rates. In FY2024, 46.5% of B-visa applications from Nigeria were denied. Student visa denials hit 75%.

For many Nigerians hoping to travel, the door to the US just got narrower.