Uploaded September 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
House lawmakers are investigating companies accused of turning “birth tourism” into a lucrative business by helping foreign women travel to the United States to give birth, allowing their children to obtain U.S. citizenship.
The House Oversight Committee examined the practice Tuesday, with Republican lawmakers raising concerns about potential immigration fraud and national security risks tied to companies that market maternity services to foreign clients.
Birth tourism generally involves pregnant foreign nationals traveling to the United States to give birth. Under the longstanding interpretation of the 14th Amendment, most children born on U.S. soil receive American citizenship regardless of their parents’ nationality or immigration status.
Steven Camarota of the Center for Immigration Studies told lawmakers he estimates between 200,000 and 300,000 children were born through birth tourism over the past decade, arguing the practice allows people to “game the system” to obtain citizenship for their children.
Republicans focused particular attention on “Have My Baby in Miami,” a company founded by Dr. Wladimir Lorentz that markets maternity services to international clients.
Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, highlighted language from the company's website promoting the prospect of having a child in the United States before questioning Lorentz about whether his business had helped children of Chinese Communist Party members obtain American citizenship.
Lorentz declined to answer, invoking his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. After he indicated he would invoke the Fifth in response to lawmakers’ questions, the committee dismissed him.
Republicans also raised broader national security concerns, pointing to reports of Chinese and Russian nationals paying tens of thousands of dollars to companies facilitating births in the United States.
Traveling to the United States while pregnant is not itself illegal. However, State Department rules allow consular officers to deny certain temporary visas when they believe the primary purpose of the trip is to give birth in the U.S. to obtain citizenship for the child. Misrepresenting a trip's purpose can also carry immigration consequences.
READ MORE: 13wham.com/news/nation-world/congress-investigates-birth-tourism-industry-marketing-us-citizenship-republican-amendment-immigration
_______________
Stay up to date with our social media:
13 WHAM on Facebook: facebook.com/13WHAM
13 WHAM on Twitter: twitter.com/13WHAM
13WHAM on Instagram: instagram.com/13whamtv/?hl=en
13WHAM on TikTok: tiktok.com/@13wham?lang=en
13 WHAM Daily Local News Digest: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuTJB6tta5ar3Fu5CumAvlvVunEP6bc9A
For more information, visit 13wham.com
Have a news tip? Send it directly to us:
Email us: news@13wham.com
Call the Newsroom: (585) 334-8700
WHAM is a NY based station and a ABC Television affiliate owned and operated by Deerfield Media, Inc and receives certain services from an affiliation of Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. is one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies in the country today.
#13WHAM #News #Rochester #NewYork
House lawmakers are investigating companies accused of turning “birth tourism” into a lucrative business by helping foreign women travel to the United States to give birth, allowing their children to obtain U.S. citizenship.
The House Oversight Committee examined the practice Tuesday, with Republican lawmakers raising concerns about potential immigration fraud and national security risks tied to companies that market maternity services to foreign clients.
Birth tourism generally involves pregnant foreign nationals traveling to the United States to give birth. Under the longstanding interpretation of the 14th Amendment, most children born on U.S. soil receive American citizenship regardless of their parents’ nationality or immigration status.
Steven Camarota of the Center for Immigration Studies told lawmakers he estimates between 200,000 and 300,000 children were born through birth tourism over the past decade, arguing the practice allows people to “game the system” to obtain citizenship for their children.
Republicans focused particular attention on “Have My Baby in Miami,” a company founded by Dr. Wladimir Lorentz that markets maternity services to international clients.
Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, highlighted language from the company's website promoting the prospect of having a child in the United States before questioning Lorentz about whether his business had helped children of Chinese Communist Party members obtain American citizenship.
Lorentz declined to answer, invoking his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. After he indicated he would invoke the Fifth in response to lawmakers’ questions, the committee dismissed him.
Republicans also raised broader national security concerns, pointing to reports of Chinese and Russian nationals paying tens of thousands of dollars to companies facilitating births in the United States.
Traveling to the United States while pregnant is not itself illegal. However, State Department rules allow consular officers to deny certain temporary visas when they believe the primary purpose of the trip is to give birth in the U.S. to obtain citizenship for the child. Misrepresenting a trip's purpose can also carry immigration consequences.
READ MORE: 13wham.com/news/nation-world/congress-investigates-birth-tourism-industry-marketing-us-citizenship-republican-amendment-immigration
_______________
Stay up to date with our social media:
13 WHAM on Facebook: facebook.com/13WHAM
13 WHAM on Twitter: twitter.com/13WHAM
13WHAM on Instagram: instagram.com/13whamtv/?hl=en
13WHAM on TikTok: tiktok.com/@13wham?lang=en
13 WHAM Daily Local News Digest: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuTJB6tta5ar3Fu5CumAvlvVunEP6bc9A
For more information, visit 13wham.com
Have a news tip? Send it directly to us:
Email us: news@13wham.com
Call the Newsroom: (585) 334-8700
WHAM is a NY based station and a ABC Television affiliate owned and operated by Deerfield Media, Inc and receives certain services from an affiliation of Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. is one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies in the country today.
#13WHAM #News #Rochester #NewYork
