Marsha Blackburn Introduces Bill to End Birth Tourism and Fight Immigration Fraud

 

Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) have introduced legislation that they say will combat illegal immigration fraud and eliminate loopholes in birthright citizenship that foreign nationals exploit.

This, according to a press release Blackburn published on her website Monday.

The Ban Birth Tourism Act will amend the Immigration and Nationality Act and ban birth tourism as a permissible basis for obtaining a temporary visitor visa, according to the press release.

“Over the last two decades, birth tourism has grown to be a sizable industry. Each year tens of thousands of people exploit this immigration law loophole. Our nation’s citizenship is not for sale to those who pay to come here and give birth,” Blackburn said in the press release.

“Citizenship is for those who love our great country and want to contribute to and preserve freedom – not those parachuting in to obtain a second citizenship so they may come back whenever they please.”

Loeffler, meanwhile, said that for decades America “has felt the repercussions of a failed, outdated immigration system that has rewarded those who abuse our nation’s compassion.”

Yes, Every Kid

“The practice of foreign nationals traveling to the United States to secure automatic and permanent citizenship for their children by giving birth on American soil must end. Through the Ban Birth Tourism Act, we are closing a glaring legal loophole, reducing an undue and unfair burden on our Southern border towns and protecting the integrity of our immigration system,” Loeffler wrote.

The Ban Birth Tourism Act codifies the U.S. Department of State’s January 2020 rule change to prohibit the issuance of visas for birth tourists, according to the press release.

Blackburn and Loeffler said birth tourism is a multi-million dollar industry in which businesses aid pregnant foreigners in obtaining birthright citizenship for their newborn. These firms often serve wealthy Russian and Chinese nationals and charge foreign clients thousands of dollars for advice on how to lie to immigration officers.

“Over 20,000 birth tourists come to the U.S. annually. From 2008 to 2012, the number of birth tourists coming from China to the U.S. increased from 4,200 to 10,000,” the press release said.

“In 2019, the U.S. Department of Justice charged 19 birth tourism operators and clients in California for immigration fraud, money laundering, and identity theft.”

– – –

Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected].

 

 

 

 

 

Related posts

9 Thoughts to “Marsha Blackburn Introduces Bill to End Birth Tourism and Fight Immigration Fraud”

  1. William Delzell

    What about the money that Loeffler owes to investors she defrauded with her inside trading? Don’t beatify a crook!

  2. Silence Dogood

    I admire our Senator for standing for leading the way. I am satisfied with her good work. Remembering such worthless Senators as Alexander and Corker (remember Gore?) Senator Blackburn represents Tennessee and our Conservative values well.Thanks!

    1. William Delzell

      You mean bigoted values, Silence Dogood?

  3. Larry

    Even though I support this and H.R. 140 but unfortunately neither will get passed. Democrats will shoot any bill down that has anything to do will controlling illegal immigration.

  4. lb

    Teaming with a scandal ridden soon to be EXSenator? Is she trying out for the gopE/RINO class?
    BTW, I have reached out to her office several times to ask if she was one of the Rs in the Committee to change names on Monuments that voted YES. I wanted to know exactly what Vote she DID cast and NO response.
    HOW that got out of Committee is a mystery as it is a R controlled Committee. Tom Cotton KNOWS who Voted Yes and isnt saying but I really wish he would!

  5. Wolf Woman

    John, call her whatever names you want but she’s doing what her constituents want her to do and what will help her country, unlike some of our other Republican representatives. Illegal immigration and birthright citizenship are drums she’s been beating for years and continues to beat.

  6. Kevin

    Yup and Ms. Loeffler is looking to learn from the best, and ride along with Marsha-mallow’s charade, to con the citizens of Georgia. Hopefully the they will separate the wheat from the chaff and pick Doug Collins. Substance over fluff!

    Hopefully, in 2024, Tennessee will have better choices.

  7. John

    All this empty suit is doing is creating a record she can recite when running for re-election. Marsha knows good and well this bill will never make it out of the Democrat controlled House alive. She used the same tactics when she was in the House. 14 years in the House of Representatives and she doesn’t have her name attached to one piece of meaningful legislation which became law. Now this do-nothing empty suite is in the Senate. Time to fire this career politician.

    1. Boyd

      Even if a bill never makes it out of the Democrat House, it exposes those who are against it. That`s politics.

Comments