A Republican bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "Birthright Abuse and Nationality Act," or the "BAN Act," aims to prohibit birth tourism in the United States. It defines birth tourism as an alien visiting the country primarily to give birth to a child whose parent is not a U.S. national. The bill establishes birth tourism as a ground of inadmissibility for the birthing alien and their immediate family members. It also creates criminal penalties, including prison time, for those who commit visa fraud related to birth tourism. Additionally, the act targets entities that organize or promote the commercialization of birth tourism.
Yes
- Scored +5
Does this give the federal government more power?
The bill expands federal authority to regulate immigration and prosecute visa fraud related to birth tourism.
The opposite· 3 of 6
- Scored -7
Would immigrants be better off under this?
The bill creates new grounds of inadmissibility and criminalizes specific actions by foreign nationals.
- Scored -5
Would children be better off under this?
The bill may negatively affect children born to non-national parents seeking citizenship through birth tourism.
- Scored -5
Would business owners be better off under this?
The bill penalizes businesses and entities that facilitate or promote birth tourism.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Protection of Citizenship Integrity: The bill aims to ensure that American citizenship is not treated as a commercial product or a "sovereign privilege" that can be bought or sold through the birth tourism industry (Section 2).
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Legal Exceptions for Medical Necessity: The definition of birth tourism specifically excludes visits for medical treatment that the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines is necessary on a case-by-case basis (Section 3).
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Deterrence of Fraud: By establishing prison sentences of up to 10 years for those who intentionally misrepresent facts or fail to disclose a pregnancy for the purpose of birth tourism, the bill seeks to penalize visa fraud (Section 5).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Inadmissibility for Family Members: Spouses, partners, or other immediate family members of an alien engaged in birth tourism can be deemed inadmissible if they knowingly participate in or facilitate the practice (Section 4).
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Penalties for Facilitators: Individuals or entities that participate in, organize, advertise, or finance a commercial enterprise that assists birth tourism can face fines and up to 10 years in prison (Section 5).
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Removal of Convicted Aliens: A United States district court is granted jurisdiction to enter a judicial order of removal at the time of sentencing against any alien convicted of an offense under this act (Section 5).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would immigrants be better off under this? — The bill creates new grounds of inadmissibility and criminalizes specific actions by foreign nationals. Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill penalizes businesses and entities that facilitate or promote birth tourism. Would children be better off under this? — The bill may negatively affect children born to non-national parents seeking citizenship through birth tourism. Would women be better off under this? — The bill imposes restrictions and criminal penalties on birthing women engaged in birth tourism.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make it easier for immigrants already here to become citizens? — The bill restricts access to citizenship by declaring those engaged in birth tourism inadmissible.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill expands federal authority to regulate immigration and prosecute visa fraud related to birth tourism. Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — The bill allows for judicial orders of removal at the time of sentencing, which may impact due process for those accused.
- 7/22/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Introduced in House