Trump orders the State and Homeland Security Departments to deny visas to and remove foreign nationals who enter the United States to give birth

What happened

On August 6, 2026, Trump signed Executive Order 14419, “Ending Birth Tourism,” which delegates authority under section 215(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act to the secretaries of State and Homeland Security to deny or revoke visas, bar entry and remove people who have entered or plan to enter to give birth. They may also act against facilitators, with humanitarian and national-interest exemptions.

The order defines birth tourism as entering the United States on a nonimmigrant visa to give birth, or facilitating such entry. It declares citizenship is not a commodity and describes an industry of operators who coach clients to misrepresent their travel plans. It directs the secretaries to update rules and guidance.

On August 12, the State Department created a task force and said it had revoked 600-plus visas. The order was published in the Federal Register on August 11, and followed the Supreme Court’s June 2026 rejection of the administration’s attempt to end birthright citizenship.

Who benefited

The administration gained an enforcement program against births on U.S. soil that requires no change in constitutional law and no vote in Congress. Consular and border officers received broad discretion to judge pregnant travelers’ intent.

Who wanted something

The White House immigration policy team led by Stephen Miller drafted the original birthright order and sought alternatives after it fell. Secretaries Rubio and Mullin were handed the delegated authority and the job of writing the rules.

Who lost out

Pregnant foreign nationals traveling lawfully can be refused entry, lose their visas or be removed based on an officer’s inference about why they are traveling. Children born here to such parents keep their citizenship, but their families face permanent bars.

Why it matters

Having lost in court on who is born a citizen, the administration turned to controlling who may be present to give birth. The order’s definition turns on purpose, which is hard to prove at a border, so the effect is to give officers broad discretion over pregnant travelers.

Sources Federal Register (primary)U.S. Department of State (primary)Reuters