Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) introduced the “Ban Birth Tourism Act” this week to close a long-abused immigration loophole exploited by foreign nationals. The bill would bar entry to those coming to the U.S. for the sole purpose of giving birth and securing American citizenship for their children.
Blackburn’s legislation aims to dismantle what she describes as a “multi-million dollar industry” operated by brokers, particularly in countries like China and Russia. These networks allegedly charge pregnant women to travel to the United States, stay in designated housing, and deliver their babies on U.S. soil, securing birthright citizenship.
“You have brokers who are advertising and pushing for people in countries like Russia and China, and women, when they are pregnant, they can pay a fee to the broker, come into the U.S., live in housing that is provided for them, have the baby, get the birth certificate,” Blackburn said.
Under current law, children born in the U.S. receive automatic citizenship, regardless of the parents’ immigration status. Critics argue this has encouraged foreign nationals to exploit the system, resulting in chain migration years later. Blackburn’s bill would make it illegal for individuals seeking entry solely to obtain citizenship for their children via birth on U.S. soil.
“Foreign nationals have been exploiting our nation’s immigration laws for far too long, taking advantage of the system to come to the United States for the sole purpose of giving birth to obtain U.S. citizenship for their children,” Blackburn said. “The Ban Birth Tourism Act would prevent foreign nationals, including those from adversaries like Communist China and Russia, from buying American citizenship for their children.”
Blackburn’s effort aligns with President Donald Trump’s executive order to end birthright citizenship for children born to non-citizen or non-permanent resident parents. The Supreme Court began hearing arguments on Trump’s policy this month.
President Trump reaffirmed his stance in a Truth Social post, writing, “Birthright Citizenship was not meant for people taking vacations to become permanent Citizens of the United States of America, and bringing their families with them, all the time laughing at the ‘SUCKERS’ that we are!”
Rep. Brian Babin (R-TX) introduced similar legislation in the House, echoing Blackburn’s goal to stop abuse of citizenship laws and tighten border enforcement.
