The United States has cautioned Nigerians against travelling to the country with the primary intention of giving birth and claiming US citizenship for their children.
In a renewed advisory targeting visa misuse on Monday, the US embassy in Nigeria said such travel applications would be denied if consular officers have reason to believe that birthright citizenship is the main motivation.
The warning comes amidst increased scrutiny regarding “birth tourism” and tightened immigration controls in the US.
“Using your 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 embassy wrote in an update shared on X.
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“Consular officers will deny your visa application if they have reason to believe this is your intent.”
The attraction for birth tourism is largely the lifelong benefits associated with US citizenship—including the right to live and work in the country, access to education, and eligibility to sponsor family members in the future.
These benefits have made birth tourism a global trend, especially among wealthy families from Asia, Latin America, and parts of Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.
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The 14th Amendment to the US Constitution guarantees birthright citizenship for “all persons born or naturalised in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof”.
Historically, this has meant nearly all children born on American soil are automatically US citizens, regardless of parents’ immigration status.
But in January, just hours after taking office, Donald Trump issued an executive order ending the birthright citizenship privilege.
Trump has long argued that foreign nationals take advantage of the law, bringing their families to procreate in the US, driving up migration numbers.
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But the legality of the president’s executive order remains uncertain, as it is currently blocked by court injunctions.
After some 18 states and rights groups blocked the president’s move by filing court cases, Trump said birthright citizenship was contained in the law to protect babies of slaves after the civil war and did not extend to tourists and illegal immigrants.
