WASHINGTON, 13 August. /Dunyo IA/.  The U.S. Department of State has established a task force to combat “birth tourism” - a practice involving entry into the country on a non-immigrant visa for the purpose of giving birth to a child and obtaining U.S. citizenship for the child, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

According to the U.S. Department of State, new task force will identify such cases, revoke the visas of violators and those who facilitate such activities, and dismantle the activities of commercial facilitators. The Department plans to analyse information jointly with other federal agencies, including Department of Homeland Security.

According to the Department of State, more than 600 visas of foreign nationals have been revoked to date. Department explained that visas are generally revoked when there are indications of potential ineligibility.

According to U.S. authorities, a profitable industry has emerged around the practice. Facilitators who present themselves as doulas, midwives, or wellness advocates offer “birth in the U.S.” services, assistance with obtaining visas, and hospital arrangements. Some of them reportedly forge medical documents and coach clients to conceal the true purpose of their travel.

Inspections have also uncovered cases of misrepresenting the purpose of travel when applying for visas. One couple twice cited a conference and a vacation as the purpose of their trips, although they intended to give birth to their children in the United States. In another case, a foreign government official obtained a visa for a one-week official trip, but remained in the country for three months and gave birth to a child. Another woman stated that she was traveling to Orlando, but instead traveled to Los Angeles and gave birth five days after arrival.

The State Department warned that wilfully concealing the true purpose of travel may result in permanent ineligibility for a U.S. visa or entry to the United States.

“U.S. citizenship is not for sale”, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, emphasizing that the authorities will use all available tools to dismantle networks involved in organizing “birth tourism.”

Photo by the “EPA” agency