The U.S. Embassy in Uganda has issued a stern warning to visa holders, stating that traveling to the United States with the primary intent of giving birth to secure U.S. citizenship for their children is prohibited.
The advisory, posted on July 1, 2025 on the embassy’s X handle, emphasizes that consular officers will deny visa applications if they suspect this intent, and parents who engage in such practices may lose eligibility for future visa renewals.
Attention U.S. visa holders:
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. Consular officers will deny your visa application if they have reason to believe this is your… pic.twitter.com/KHi0ajwhKE— U.S. Mission Uganda (@usmissionuganda) July 1, 2025
This move targets the practice of “birth tourism,” where Ugandan parents, often on tourist visas, travel to the U.S. to give birth, with some relying on government assistance for medical costs, which are ultimately borne by American taxpayers.
The embassy’s statement comes in the context of President Donald Trump’s broader efforts to curb birthright citizenship, a policy enshrined in the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which grants citizenship to nearly all individuals born on U.S. soil.
On January 20, 2025, Trump signed Executive Order 14156, aiming to deny automatic citizenship to children born to parents who are either undocumented or on temporary visas, such as tourist, student, or work visas.
The order has sparked significant controversy, with critics arguing it violates the Constitution and established legal precedent, notably the 1898 Supreme Court ruling in United States v. Wong Kim Ark, which affirmed birthright citizenship regardless of parental immigration status.
The executive order faced immediate legal challenges from 22 states, immigrant rights groups, and individuals, leading to nationwide injunctions issued by federal judges in Washington, Maryland, and Massachusetts.
These judges deemed the order “blatantly unconstitutional,” citing the 14th Amendment’s clear language: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States.”
However, on June 27, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision limited the ability of lower courts to issue nationwide injunctions, allowing Trump’s order to take effect in 28 states after a 30-day period.
The U.S. Embassy’s warning to Ugandans reflects a broader crackdown on birth tourism, aligning with Trump’s immigration agenda.
Legal experts, including those from the American Civil Liberties Union, argue that the policy creates uncertainty for immigrant families and risks establishing a “permanent subclass” of U.S.-born individuals denied citizenship rights.
