Trump Administration Revokes 300000 Visas and Targets Birth Tourism

The Trump administration has revoked more than 300000 visas since President Donald Trump returned to office in January 2025, the US Department of State said on October 20, 2026. The cancellations target foreign nationals accused of criminal activity, immigration violations, fraud or conduct considered a threat to national security, while a separate enforcement campaign focuses on suspected birth tourism schemes.

According to The New York Post, at least 4000 revoked visas were connected to individuals accused of participating in or facilitating birth tourism. The State Department has not publicly disclosed the nationalities of all visa holders affected by the broader enforcement effort.

The latest total represents an increase from approximately 250000 revocations confirmed the previous month and exceeds the more than 175000 reported in August. In January, the department announced that cancellations had surpassed 100000, establishing a record at that time.

State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the administration had accelerated visa enforcement beyond the pace of previous administrations.

"We have zero tolerance for foreigners here on visas who break the law, commit fraud, or undermine our national security," said Tommy Pigott, State Department spokesperson.

Pigott also described the scale of the enforcement campaign in a separate statement reported by The New York Post.

"With over 300,000 revocations, the Trump administration has revoked more visas at a faster pace than any administration in history," said Tommy Pigott, State Department spokesperson.

The department has expanded screening procedures, including scrutiny of applicants' social media activity. Rights advocates and human rights experts have criticized these measures, arguing that they threaten freedom of expression and increase surveillance of immigrants.

Birth tourism has become a specific focus of the administration's enforcement strategy. The State Department defines the practice as using a visitor visa under false pretenses to enter the United States primarily to give birth so that a child can obtain US citizenship.

A State Department spokesperson described the campaign's focus in comments to NTD.

"The largest crackdown has been on schemes involving Chinese nationals seeking to exploit America's immigration system to obtain US citizenship for their children," said the State Department spokesperson.

The spokesperson also addressed commercial networks suspected of arranging such travel.

"We will not allow foreign nationals or commercial networks from any country to abuse our visa process for financial gain," said the State Department spokesperson.

The Birth Tourism Prevention Task Force was established on August 12. Within 10 days, nearly 900 visas had been revoked in connection with the initiative, according to NTD. The broader campaign has since targeted hundreds of Chinese nationals, although the department has not released a comprehensive breakdown of affected visa holders.

The State Department spokesperson said the task force operates as part of a wider effort to protect immigration procedures.

"President Trump and Secretary Rubio are putting American interests first, strengthening enforcement, and making clear that the United States will not tolerate the deliberate exploitation of its visa process," said the State Department spokesperson.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a new visa restriction policy on September 23 targeting foreign nationals who knowingly engage in or facilitate birth tourism. The department is working with the Department of Homeland Security to identify suspected cases and dismantle networks involved in fraudulent visa applications.

Under an existing policy introduced in January 2020, consular officers must deny visitor visas to applicants they have reason to believe intend to travel primarily to give birth so their children can obtain US citizenship. The administration has also directed US diplomats to review certain visa and travel records dating back to 2020, according to a State Department cable described by Politico on October 9.

In August, Representative Harriet M. Hageman, a Republican from Wyoming, cited findings by US lawmakers concerning more than 107 Chinese-owned surrogacy agencies operating in Southern California. She said the agencies catered primarily to wealthy Chinese clients, with some allegedly connected to Chinese state-owned entities.

Hageman urged the administration to take action against suspected misuse of international surrogacy arrangements, calling for authorities to consider measures to prevent related visa abuse.

"deny visas to individuals who attempt or have participated in international surrogacy arrangements," Hageman urged President Donald Trump in a statement described by NTD.

In February, Senators Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Rick Scott of Florida called for federal scrutiny of suspected commercial operations.

"investigate surrogacy centers operated by foreign nationals," the senators urged the Department of Justice in a February statement.

The senators also raised concerns about the citizenship and future ties of children born through these arrangements.

"systematically exploiting America's surrogacy and birthright citizenship laws," the senators said of Chinese nationals involved in the practice.

The senators added that children born through these arrangements were, in most cases, taken back to China after birth.

"in most cases," the senators said, describing what they alleged happened to children born in the United States through these arrangements.

Their statement further argued that the issue could have implications beyond immigration enforcement.

"These children will eventually be eligible to vote in American elections, access sensitive positions, or otherwise advance Beijing's interests, all while owing their allegiance to the CCP," the senators said.

The senators described the alleged activity as a possible strategic concern involving a foreign government.

"a deliberate, long-term strategy by an adversary to ideologically and systematically undermine the United States," the senators said.

They also characterized the alleged practice as a security concern.

"poses a serious national security risk," the senators said.

Rubio has separately defended the administration's approach to citizenship protections.

"The Trump Administration is using every tool at our disposal to defend the integrity of U.S. citizenship, protect American public benefits and U.S. taxpayers from exploitation, and safeguard our national security," said Marco Rubio, Secretary of State.

A 2024 study published in the Journal of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine found that annual embryo transfers in US surrogacy arrangements commissioned by foreign intended parents increased from 2758 to 4905. Chinese nationals accounted for 41.7 percent of that foreign intended-parent group.

Investigative journalist Peter Schweizer estimated in a February interview with American Thought Leaders that birth tourism brings between 50000 and 100000 newborns to the United States annually for Chinese nationals. That figure was his estimate, rather than an official government count.

Separately, a Fox News opinion article described federal prosecutions involving alleged birth tourism operations in Southern California. The article said two operators had been convicted by juries of conspiracy and international money laundering, while related indictments charged 19 people across three schemes.

One indictment alleged that an operation named "You Win USA" charged customers between $40000 and $80000, used 20 apartments and received $3 million in international wire transfers from China over two years. Another indictment accused a former Irvine resident of operating "Star Baby Care," which advertised that it had served 8000 pregnant women.

The Fox News article said some operators allegedly instructed customers to conceal pregnancies, misrepresent travel plans and use maternity housing. It also noted that traveling while pregnant or seeking legitimate medical treatment with truthful disclosures is not inherently illegal; the relevant immigration issue is whether applicants misrepresent the purpose of their visits.

In its commentary, Fox News characterized American citizenship as a protected national interest rather than a commercial product.

"American citizenship is a sacred national trust, not a cheap commodity sold to the highest bidder," the article stated.

The article also emphasized the administration's stated objective of targeting the businesses behind suspected fraudulent applications.

"The American Dream is not for sale," the Fox News article stated.

The State Department has not released a complete nationality breakdown for the more than 300000 visa revocations. The administration's enforcement campaign continues to address criminal conduct, immigration violations and suspected commercial birth tourism networks.