Trump Allies Weigh 212(f) Ban on Pregnant Foreigners After Birthright Citizenship Loss
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Jul 1
Trump Allies Weigh 212(f) Ban on Pregnant Foreigners After Birthright Citizenship Loss
2 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Jul 1
Summary
White House officials and Trump allies are discussing whether Section 212(f) could be used to bar some pregnant foreigners from entering the U.S. after the Supreme Court rejected the administration’s birthright citizenship push.
A Justice Department memo issued soon after the ruling told U.S. attorneys to prioritize birth-tourism investigations with DHS, steering prosecutors toward visa fraud and other charges including wire fraud, money laundering and identity theft.
Up to 26,000 U.S. births a year may involve women traveling mainly to give birth, according to Migration Policy Institute estimates cited in the report, versus more than 3.5 million total annual U.S. births.
Officials are also weighing tighter visa and entry screening—such as requiring applicants to disclose pregnancy or plans to give birth in the U.S.—while existing rules already let consular and border officers deny visas or entry for that purpose.
The discussions fit a broader post-ruling immigration crackdown that officials say could also intensify efforts against migrants with temporary protected status or parole, even as Trump says Congress should keep pressing the issue.