US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to curb “birth tourism” in which pregnant females come to the United States for the sole purpose of giving birth so that their children can become citizens.
The transfer follows the Supreme Court’s decision not to limit birthright citizenship earlier this year in response to a request from the Trump administration.
During the White House signing ceremony, Trump stated that the order will ensure that people can’t take advantage of the United States immigration system by exploiting “birth tourism” to become citizens through a child born in the United States.
The executive order will remove this exception for infants born to mothers coming to the US just to have a baby. The new policy aims to prevent “organised networks” that enable birth tourism, the administration said, and defined birth tourism as a misuse of the immigration system.
The order also mandates “tighter scrutiny” of visa applications for people who are believed to be travelling to the US for “birth tourism” and for anyone who arranges birth tourism.
It is not known, however, how the policy will be applied and what measures will be taken to check whether a pregnant visitor came in to the country specifically for the purpose of giving birth.
New US visa rules announced for applicants with diabetes, obesity
Also, foreigners seeking visas to live in the US might be rejected if they have certain medical conditions, including diabetes or obesity, under a directive from the Trump administration.
The guidance, issued in a cable the State Department sent to embassy and consular officials and examined by KFF Health News, directs visa officers to deem applicants ineligible to enter the US for several new reasons, including age or the likelihood they might rely on public benefits.
The guidance says that such people could become a “public charge” a potential drain on US resources because of their health issues or age.
Read more: New US visa rules announced for applicants with diabetes, obesity