The State Department has launched a global effort to combat alleged visa fraud connected to Birth tourism, with more than 750 visas already revoked under a newly created task force.
According to Fox News, State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott told the outlet that the initiative, directed under President Donald Trump, relies on U.S. officials and international law enforcement partners to identify travel patterns that may indicate Birth tourism operations.
Birth tourism generally involves foreign nationals traveling to the United States with the primary purpose of giving birth so their child can obtain U.S. citizenship.
Officials say some people involved in the practice allegedly misrepresent their travel plans when applying for visitor visas.
The State Department launched its Birth tourism and Prevention Task Force on Aug. 12.
Officials are examining travel patterns in real time and investigating cases they believe may involve fraudulent applications or organized Birth tourism networks.
"The first step in that is identifying them," Pigott said.
He explained that consular officers work with international partners and law enforcement agencies to identify patterns that could point to a Birth tourism operation.
Pigott described one recent case involving a woman who entered the United States on a tourist visa while claiming she was taking a vacation.
Officials became suspicious after her partner, who lived outside the country, repeatedly traveled to the United States while she was in the later stages of pregnancy.
Officials viewed the travel pattern as a possible indication that the couple intended for the partner to be present around the time of the child's birth.
The State Department then revoked the visas involved, according to Pigott.
Authorities are also targeting businesses that allegedly market Birth tourism services.
Pigott said some advertisements promoted concepts such as "automatic guaranteed citizenship" while claiming to provide health care-related services.
He also alleged that some networks coach clients on how to avoid paying medical expenses after entering the country, potentially leaving hospitals and taxpayers with unpaid bills.
Trump has criticized businesses built around Birth tourism and said the practice should not be used as a way to obtain citizenship.
"We're making adjustments because it's very unfair," Trump said. "They're building businesses around Birthright Citizenship. That's not the way it was supposed to work."
The State Department says the visa revocations are part of a broader effort to protect the integrity of the U.S. immigration system.
Officials expect the number of revoked visas connected to suspected Birth tourism to rise as the task force expands its investigations.