Donald Trump opened a new front in his fight against immigration on Thursday January 23. The US administration will limit the visas granted to pregnant women suspected of wanting to go to the United States so that their child automatically benefits from American nationality at birth.
With his anti-migration decree imposed after a tough legal battle, and the wall he is trying to build on the border with Mexico, Donald Trump has made the migration issue one of his priorities. With the November presidential election approaching, when he will run for a second term, this divisive theme could come to the fore again.
"As of January 24, 2020, the State Department will no longer issue temporary visit visas to foreigners who want to enter the United States for" maternity tourism "", in order to take advantage of American soil law, the White House announced on Thursday in a statement.
"Strengthening security" and "the immigration system"
According to the text, it is now up to the agents of the American consulates around the world to "Refuse a B visa" for business or leisure if they have "Reason to believe" that the person making the request actually wishes only to give birth during their stay.
The new rules clearly target women who "Go to the United States so that, by giving birth on American soil, their child automatically and permanently obtains American nationality", she explained.
"This regulatory change is necessary to enhance security", "The immigration system" from the United States and "The integrity of American citizenship"added the presidency. She believes that this "Maternity tourism industry" threatens to be a "Overload" for hospitals across the country, not to mention that "Fuels criminal activity".
"Put an end to these glaring faults" of the American system "Will help combat these endemic abuses and, ultimately, protect the United States"insisted the White House, assuring also wanting to defend the money of "American taxpayers".
Extensive soil law
The law of the soil is very extensive in the United States: it is enough to be born in the country to automatically benefit from American nationality. Faced with suspicions of arbitrary refusals which could multiply, an official of the American State Department assured Thursday that the consular agents had “Instructed not to ask all women applying for a visa if they are pregnant or intend to become pregnant”. In the same way, they "Will not be allowed to request a pregnancy test".
It remains to be seen whether the republican billionaire will repeat his threat to suppress the law of the soil. He said he planned in 2018 to return by decree to this principle, however guaranteed by the 14e amendment to the US Constitution (which grants citizenship to anyone born or naturalized in the United States), in part to deter migrant women from Central America who walk long days trying to cross the border.
