The new rules will be effective January 24, according to a State Department cable obtained by CNN, which was sent on Wednesday to embassies around the world. A State Department official told CNN that the rule change is intended to address the national security and law enforcement risks. The State Department official did not have an estimate on how much so-called "birth tourism" cost US taxpayers. The US has also sought legal action against people thought to be capitalizing on the 'birth tourism' industry. The laws generally haven't changed with what we do," he said, reiterating that State Department handles issuing visas.

Source: CNN January 23, 2020 16:34 UTC