The Trump administration has issued a stern warning to foreigners, including Kenyans, against traveling to the United States with the intention of giving birth so that their children can automatically acquire American citizenship.
In a statement released on Friday, August 29, the US State Department of Consular Affairs emphasized that such actions, commonly referred to as “birth tourism,” are not permitted under US law.
“Reminder, using your U.S. visa to travel for the primary purpose of giving birth in the United States so that your child will have U.S. citizenship is not permitted,” the statement read. “Consular officers will deny your visa application if they have reason to believe this is your intent.”
The announcement follows reports that an increasing number of foreigners have been exploiting tourist visas to travel to the US for childbirth, thereby securing citizenship for their children under the jus soli (right of the soil) provision in the US Constitution.
The move comes just days after the administration revealed plans to tighten visa rules for certain categories of foreigners, including international students and journalists. On Wednesday, August 27, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) argued that such measures are necessary to combat visa overstays and prevent abuse.
“For too long, the past administration has allowed students and other visa holders to remain in the US virtually indefinitely, posing risks, costing taxpayers, and devastating US citizens,” DHS stated.
In addition to these measures, the US government has also introduced new requirements for Kenyans applying for visas. In July, the US Embassy in Nairobi announced that applicants must now disclose all their social media handles and usernames used in the past five years when filling out the DS-160 visa form.
The DS-160 is used for temporary travel to the US, covering purposes such as tourism, business, education, and medical care. The embassy said the social media requirement aims to strengthen security checks and ensure transparency in visa applications.
These changes highlight the administration’s broader immigration agenda, signaling stricter scrutiny of visa applicants and efforts to clamp down on perceived loopholes in US immigration policies.
