Birth tourism, a practice where pregnant women travel to the United States to give birth, has raised concerns among lawmakers and citizens alike. This phenomenon has sparked debate about the implications of birthright citizenship, with some arguing it has led to an increase in illegal immigration. The US Supreme Court recently upheld birthright citizenship, which has further fueled the discussion.

Estimating Birth Tourism Numbers

Researchers estimate that between 5,000 to 26,000 babies are born annually in the US due to birth tourism. However, it is challenging to determine the exact number, as no US agency tracks this data. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported approximately 9,500 births to parents who listed a non-US address as their residence in 2024.

The Migration Policy Institute, a nonpartisan think tank, suggests that this number may include women who did not intend to give birth in the US. In contrast, the Center for Immigration Studies estimates that there could be as many as 20,000 to 26,000 possible births from tourists each year. Penn State researchers found that babies born to birth tourists account for about 0.3% of annual births in the US.

Government Response

The Justice Department has vowed to prosecute birth tourism schemes and has done so in the past. The Obama, Biden, and Trump administrations have all taken steps to prevent and prosecute birth tourism. The State Department has emphasized that US tourist visas cannot be granted for the primary purpose of obtaining US citizenship for a child by giving birth in the US.

Original reporting: WRAL Raleigh — read the source article.