US Warns Nigerians Against Birth Tourism, Threatens Visa Denials

The United States government has issued a stern warning to Nigerians seeking to travel for the sole purpose of giving birth, declaring such travel intentions as grounds for visa denial.

In a message posted via its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, the U.S. Mission in Nigeria stated clearly that using a U.S. visa to engage in birth tourism traveling with the intent to deliver a baby in the U.S. so the child automatically gains U.S. citizenship is not permitted under current immigration policies.

“We will deny your visa if we believe your primary purpose of travel is to give birth in the United States to get U.S. citizenship for your child,” the statement read.“Consular officers will deny your visa application if they have reason to believe this is your intent.”

Birth tourism refers to the act of traveling to a foreign country to give birth, primarily to secure citizenship for the child under that country’s jus soli (right of soil) policy. The U.S., which grants automatic citizenship to most children born on its soil, has long been a destination for this practice.

However, in recent years, the practice has faced growing opposition in the U.S., particularly under policies introduced by former President Donald Trump. An executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants was signed to take effect in February 2025.

Trump’s executive action sparked immediate legal resistance. On Friday, a federal judge issued a nationwide injunction halting the enforcement of the order, marking the third such legal block since a Supreme Court decision in June limited the powers of lower courts to issue sweeping nationwide rulings. Judge Joseph Laplante, who delivered the ruling, emphasized the potential harm caused by such abrupt policy shifts.

“US citizenship is the greatest privilege that exists in the world,” Laplante stated, warning that changing such a long-standing policy without legislation and public debate would inflict irreparable harm.

He further noted that the order could unjustly strip citizenship from thousands of children already covered under existing U.S. laws.

State governments and civil liberties organizations had argued that Trump’s birthright policy was unconstitutional and would disrupt public health services tied to citizenship eligibility. The federal court’s ruling now places the executive order on hold, though further legal proceedings are expected.

The U.S. Mission’s warning is part of a broader crackdown on perceived immigration loopholes. Nigerians and other foreign nationals are now being explicitly cautioned: attempting to use travel visas for birth tourism will result in denial.