The Trump administration is trying to stop so-called “birth tourism,” a practice where pregnant women travel to the United States to give birth here, which makes their children U.S. citizens. From The New York Times:

“The new rule, to take effect on Friday, will give discretion to consular officers abroad to reject women they believe are entering the United States specifically to gain citizenship for their child by giving birth. The visas covered by the new rule are issued to those seeking to visit for pleasure, medical treatment or to see friends and family.“

Breaking News: Pregnant women may be denied visas to the U.S. if officials think they're seeking citizenship for the child by giving birth in the country, the State Department saidhttps://t.co/94EypXYmkF

— The New York Times (@nytimes) January 23, 2020

In a statement, the White House said:

“This rule change is necessary to enhance public safety, national security, and the integrity of our immigration system. The birth tourism industry threatens to overburden valuable hospital resources and is rife with criminal activity, as reflected in federal prosecutions. Closing this glaring immigration loophole will combat these endemic abuses and ultimately protect the United States.”

Sarah Pierce, an attorney with the Immigration Policy institute wrote on Twitter,

“The most troubling effect of this regulation is likely to be on women coming to the United States to give birth because of a medical need.“

A footnote: The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution grants citizenship to “all persons born or naturalized in the United States.”