Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Wednesday a new visa restriction policy that targets migrants who engage in or profit illegally from the birth tourism industry.

The secretary claimed foreign commercial birth tourism networks have exploited the American immigration system to sell U.S. citizenship for profit by coaching people seeking American citizenship on how to lie on their visa applications.

Rubio said he is creating a new policy under the Immigration and Nationality Act that targets "individuals who knowingly engage in, have engaged in, or facilitate birth tourism to the United States."

The policy targets owners, operators, and managers of commercial birth tourism networks, visa “fixers” who coach applicants to commit fraud, foreign medical providers and other individuals who support, abet, and enable birth tourism.

"The Trump administration is using every tool at our disposal to defend the integrity of U.S. citizenship, protect American public benefits and U.S. taxpayers from exploitation, and safeguard our national security," Rubio said in a statement. 

"By restricting visa issuance of those who both engage in and profit from this fraud, we are sending a clear message: The United States will not allow foreigners to exploit our immigration system and violate the sanctity of U.S. citizenship," he added. 

The move comes after President Donald Trump signed an order last month that directs the State Department to issue rules and guidance to stop birth tourism, even as U.S. law already bans tourists from obtaining visas "for the primary purpose of obtaining U.S. citizenship for a child by giving birth in the United States."

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.