Overview
- The Ban Birth Tourism Act, introduced by Sen. Marsha Blackburn, aims to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to block tourist visas sought for the primary purpose of giving birth in the U.S.
- The legislation includes provisions to safeguard legitimate medical travelers whose primary reason for entry is medical treatment rather than citizenship acquisition.
- Birth tourism is estimated to result in 33,000 U.S.-born citizens annually, with some businesses charging tens of thousands of dollars to facilitate the process.
- The bill specifically targets exploitation by nationals from adversary countries, including China and Russia, as part of broader immigration reform efforts.
- The bill has been read twice in the Senate and referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security for further consideration.