The US government issued a sharp clarification about ‘birth tourism’ on Thursday — contending that tourist visa applications could be denied in many cases. The announcement came mere hours after the Donald Trump administration indicated plans to begin social media screening for those travelling to the country without a visa.
“US consular officers will deny tourist visa applications if they believe the primary purpose of travel is to give birth in the United States to obtain US citizenship for the child. This is not permitted,” read an update from the US Embassy in India.
The Trump administration had led a widespread crackdown on immigration over the past few months. It has also steppeing up monitoring of international travellers and immigrants.
Social media screening?
According to a notice published by the Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday, foreigners who are allowed to come to the United States without a visa could soon be required to submit information about their social media, email accounts and extensive family history before being approved for travel. The notice was shared in the Federal Register and indicated that Customs and Border Protection had proposed collection of five years’ worth of social media information from travellers from select countries who do not have to get visas to come to the US.
The announcement refers to travellers from more than three dozen countries who take part in the Visa Waiver Programme and submit their information to the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation, which automatically screens them and then approves them for travel to the US. Unlike visa applicants, they generally do not have to go into an embassy or consulate for an interview. The Department of Homeland Security administers the programme, which currently allows citizens of roughly 40 mostly European and Asian countries to travel to the US for tourism or business for three months without visas.
Increased checks for travellers
The Trump administration has stepped up checks of immigrants and travellers since taking over in January. Officials have tightened visa rules by requiring that applicants set all of their social media accounts to public so that they can be more easily scrutinised and checked for what authorities view as potential derogatory information. Refusing to set an account to public can be considered grounds for visa denial, according to guidelines provided by the State Department.
US Citizenship and Immigration Services now considers whether an applicant for benefits, such as a green card, “endorsed, promoted, supported, or otherwise espoused” anti-American, terrorist or antisemitic views.The heightened interest in social media screening has drawn concern from immigration and free speech advocates about what the Trump administration is looking for and whether the measures target people critical of the administration in an infringement of free speech rights.