Birth tourism in the U.S. remains notoriously difficult to measure, but Solicitor General John Sauer on Wednesday pointed the Supreme Court to what he called «striking» figures as the justices weighed President Donald Trump’s effort to curb birthright citizenship.

«Here’s a fact about it that I think is striking,» Sauer said. «Media reported as early as 2015 that, based on Chinese media reports, there are 500 — 500 — birth tourism companies in the People’s Republic of China whose business is to bring people here to give birth and return to that nation.»

Sauer’s response came after Chief Justice John Roberts asked him about the prevalence of birth tourism, which is the practice of traveling to the United States for the purpose of giving birth, so the child can automatically receive U.S. citizenship. 

Sauer acknowledged that «no one knows for sure» about firm data in the industry before citing media figures estimating more than 1 million cases from China alone. 

NEARLY ALL REPUBLICAN AGS ADD FIREPOWER TO TRUMP’S BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP PUSH

Wednesday’s oral arguments centered on Trump’s 2025 executive order advancing a narrower interpretation of the 14th Amendment’s citizenship clause so that children born in the United States to parents who are in the country illegally or temporarily would not automatically receive U.S. citizenship. 

The administration has argued the amendment’s birthright citizenship provision incentivizes and rewards illegal immigration.

Conservatives have long raised concerns about birth tourism. Senate Republicans wrote in a 2022 report that it was a lucrative industry that «short circuits and demeans the U.S. naturalization process.» But the scale of birth tourism remains elusive, and proponents of birthright citizenship have downplayed it, contending it occurs infrequently.

The GOP senators noted in the report that they could not calculate birth tourism numbers because the U.S. government does not have a way to track them. Existing visa data cannot distinguish between birth tourism and other categories of traveling to the United States, such as medical travel, they said.

Sauer, however, rattled off a string of statistics in an attempt to illustrate the magnitude of the issue.

«There’s a March 9 letter from a number of members of Congress to [the Department of Homeland Security] saying, ‘Do we have any information about this?’ The media reports indicate estimates could be over a million, or 1.5 million, from the People’s Republic of China alone,» Sauer said. 

«The congressional report that we cite in our brief talks about certain hot spots, like Russian elites coming to Miami through these birth tourism companies.»

BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP SUPPORTERS GET THE LAW WRONG BY IGNORING OBVIOUS EVIDENCE

U.S. Solicitor General D. John Sauer  (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Although the numbers remain unclear, prosecutors have secured convictions for birth tourism businesses. In 2024, Michael Liu and Phoebe Dong were found guilty by a jury of conspiracy and money laundering for running a birth tourism operation that helped pregnant Chinese women travel to the United States under false pretenses to give birth. Prosecutors said the couple coached clients to deceive immigration officials.

Sauer noted in his opening remarks to the Supreme Court that the United States’ nearly unconditional birthright citizenship policy has «spawned a sprawling industry of birth tourism, as uncounted thousands of foreigners from potentially hostile nations have flocked to give birth in the United States in recent decades, creating a whole generation of American citizens abroad with no meaningful ties to the United States.»

HOW THE SUPREME COURT’S INJUNCTION RULING ADVANCES TRUMP’S BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP FIGHT

A demonstrator outside the U.S. Supreme Court ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump’s expected arrival on April 1, 2026, in Washington, D.C. The Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments in Trump v. Barbara to determine if President Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship is constitutional. (Al Drago/Getty Images)

At issue in the case before the Supreme Court is the language in the amendment that says anyone born in the United States and «subject to the jurisdiction thereof» is automatically a citizen. Trump said the provision was a relic of the Civil War. 

«It had to do with the babies of slaves,» Trump said Tuesday as he announced he planned to attend the oral arguments, making him the first sitting president to do so. «It didn’t have to do with the protection of multimillionaires and billionaires wanting to have their children get American citizenship. It is the craziest thing I’ve ever seen.»

Sauer argued that illegal immigrants and temporary visitors lacked the ability to establish a «domicile» in the United States, meaning they were subject to the jurisdiction of another country.

Roberts questioned the relevance of Sauer’s birth tourism claims, asking him to confirm that it had «no impact on the legal analysis before us.»

Modern-day implications of the amendment, including birth tourism, «could not possibly have been approved by the 19th century framers,» Sauer replied.

«We’re in a new world now, as Justice Alito pointed out, where 8 billion people are one plane ride away from having a child who’s a U.S. citizen,» Sauer added.

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Roberts made his skepticism of Sauer’s argument apparent.

«Well, it’s a new world. It’s the same Constitution,» Roberts said.

La historia vuelve a escribirse. Artemis II despegó este jueves a las 19:24 (hora Argentina) y lleva a la humanidad al umbral de la Luna por primera vez en más de medio siglo. La misión, que reúne a cuatro astronautas a bordo de la nave Orion, tiene previsto un itinerario de casi 10 días repleto de desafíos científicos, maniobras técnicas y rutinas pensadas para sobrevivir en el espacio profundo.

Cada jornada está pensada al detalle. Desde el chequeo de sistemas vitales hasta experimentos biomédicos, pasando por ejercicios físicos y simulacros de emergencia. La agenda busca no solo garantizar la seguridad de la tripulación, sino también acumular datos que serán claves para el futuro de la exploración lunar.

Día 1

Tras la partida con el Sistema de Lanzamiento Espacial, los astronautas Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch y el canadiense Jeremy Hansen ingresaron al espacio en ocho minutos. Luego de la separación de etapas, Orion alcanza una órbita segura y posteriormente una órbita terrestre alta. Las primeras 23 horas se destinan a revisar sistemas esenciales, como el dispensador de agua, el inodoro y la eliminación de dióxido de carbono.

Durante este periodo inicial, la tripulación realiza maniobras de aproximación y giro alrededor de la etapa de propulsión criogénica intermedia, practicando operaciones de proximidad. Al concluir el primer día, los astronautas comprueban las comunicaciones de emergencia mediante la Red del Espacio Profundo y ajustan la nave para la maniobra de inyección translunar.

Día 2

La agenda se concentra en el entrenamiento físico, clave para combatir los efectos de la ingravidez. Wiseman y Glover se turnan en el dispositivo de ejercicio, mientras Koch y Hansen siguen la rutina en la segunda parte del día.

Cada movimiento sirve para probar los límites del cuerpo humano en microgravedad. Koch se encarga de la configuración para la maniobra de inyección translunar, la orden que coloca a Orion en ruta hacia la Luna. A partir de allí, la tripulación dispone de tiempo para adaptarse y establecer contacto visual con la Tierra.

Día 3

El tercer día trae consigo una corrección crucial en la trayectoria. Hansen lidera la preparación para el encendido, mientras el resto ensaya maniobras médicas: reanimación cardiopulmonar, uso de instrumental de emergencia y pruebas del sistema de comunicación en situación crítica.

La jornada concluye con un ensayo de la secuencia científica que activarán al acercarse al entorno lunar.

Día 4

Otra corrección de trayectoria refina el camino. Ahora, la atención se centra en los objetivos de observación geográfica y la captura de imágenes de cuerpos celestes. El equipo ajusta instrumentos y cámaras, perfilando las tareas científicas que se desplegarán al entrar en la órbita lunar.

Día 5

Orion cruza el umbral de la esfera lunar. La tripulación dedica la mañana a ensayar el sistema de supervivencia de la nave: prueban los trajes espaciales para emergencias, comen y beben en condiciones presurizadas. Por la tarde, ejecutan la última corrección de trayectoria antes del gran sobrevuelo.

Día 6

La nave alcanza su punto más alejado de la Tierra en el sexto día, lo que puede suponer un récord de distancia.

Al acercarse a entre 6.400 y 9.660 km (4.000 a 6.000 millas) de la superficie lunar, la tripulación toma fotos y videos de la Luna.

Durante este sobrevuelo, registran observaciones en tiempo real, incluso en lapsos de 30 a 50 minutos sin comunicación con la Tierra por hallarse detrás del satélite.

La iluminación de la superficie lunar varía según la fecha y la posición del Sol, generando oportunidades únicas para registrar cambios en el relieve y la composición del terreno. Esta variabilidad permite a la tripulación analizar cómo la luz solar resalta cráteres, montañas y valles, ofreciendo datos valiosos para futuras misiones y para el entendimiento de la geología lunar.

Día 7

El séptimo día, Orion abandona la zona de influencia lunar. Antes de alejarse, los científicos dialogan con la tripulación para recabar sus primeras impresiones tras el sobrevuelo. La nave ejecuta la maniobra inicial de regreso, y los astronautas disfrutan de una jornada mayormente libre antes de afrontar las últimas fases de la misión.

Día 8

El octavo día implica preparativos frente a posibles eventos de radiación solar. Los astronautas evalúan la construcción de refugios con los suministros de Orion y llevan a cabo experimentos para medir los niveles de radiación a bordo. Al final del día, prueban las capacidades de pilotaje manual, ensayando diferentes modos de control de la nave.

Día 9

La atención se centra ahora en el regreso en los preparativos de retorno: revisión del proceso de reingreso, comprobación de los sistemas de recolección de residuos y ensayo con prendas de compresión destinadas a prevenir la intolerancia ortostática, una alteración cardiovascular común al volver de la microgravedad.

Día 10

En el décimo día, la tripulación realiza los últimos chequeos, reordena la cápsula y utiliza los trajes espaciales para la reentrada atmosférica. Tras la separación del módulo de servicio y la exposición del escudo térmico, la nave enfrenta temperaturas de hasta 1.500 ℃ (2.732 ℉). Superada la fricción, se despliegan los paracaídas de frenado y los principales, ralentizando la cápsula hasta un descenso seguro.

El cierre de Artemis II será el amerizaje suave en el Océano Pacífico, donde equipos de recuperación aguardan para recibir a la tripulación y poner fin a una misión que redefine los alcances de la exploración lunar.

JOHANNESBURG — A Holy Week attack in a predominantly Christian town in Nigeria that left a reported 28 dead has led to widespread fears that more of Christ’s followers could be targeted over the coming Easter weekend.

On Palm Sunday last weekend, multiple gunmen reportedly shouted a Muslim declaration as they randomly opened fire in the predominantly Christian town of Angwan Rukuba in the Jos District of Nigeria’s Plateau State.

«The terrorists stormed the area in a commando style and started shooting, sporadically chanting, ‘Allahu Akbar’ (God is great in Arabic),» a field worker told the aid agency Voice of the Martyrs from the scene. «The area is (a majority) Christian community.»

AFTER TRUMP STRIKES ISLAMIST TERRORISTS, US GENERAL TRAVELS TO NIGERIA WITH MILITANTS ‘ON THE RUN’

Henrietta Blyth, CEO of Open Doors UK & Ireland, told Fox News Digital this Easter there are fears of more attacks against Christians in Nigeria.

«Tragic events like this are all too common in Plateau State and large areas of northern Nigeria,» Blyth said. 

«And too often they can occur on Christian holy days like this. Indeed, people in the region will remember the devastating 2023 Christmas Eve attacks in Benue state that killed over 140 people.»

Nigeria is ranked the seventh-worst country in the world for Christian persecution by Open Doors. The organization claims it accounts for 72% of the total number of Christian killings worldwide in 2025.

A local human rights lawyer who asked to conceal his name due to security fears, was nearby when the latest attack happened. He told Fox News Digital, «A group of people came, around 20, some on motorcycles, and started shooting.»

He added the area is essentially a Christian one «and for anybody to go and openly shoot at people, then it must be that that person had Christians in mind.»

CHRISTIANS TARGETED IN SYSTEMATIC KIDNAPPING CAMPAIGN IN NIGERIA BY JIHADI HERDSMEN, EXPERTS SAY

Funerals for some 27 Christians who were reportedly killed by Islamist Fulani tribesmen in the village of Bindi Ta-hoss, Nigeria, July, 28, 2025 (Courtesy: Christian Solidarity International )

Another local Christian resident, who also asked to withhold his name, told Fox News Digital, «I can assure you that the majority position among Christians in Nigeria is that what we are experiencing in Nigeria is Islamic expansionism, and it must be stopped, using whatever means is necessary.»

The human rights lawyer said there are reports of videos circulating that are threatening more attacks against Christians, adding, «Here in Jos in Nigeria, we say that there is no Christian holiday or event left on the Christian calendar that has escaped an attack by radical Islamists or terrorists in Nigeria, whether it is Christmas, Easter or Good Friday, Palm Sunday or Sunday services or whatever. We are trapped.»

Christians hold signs as they march on the streets of Abuja during a prayer and penance for peace and security in Nigeria in Abuja March 1, 2020. (Kola Sulaimon/AFP via Getty Images)

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In a statement to Fox News Digital, Todd Nettleton of the Voice of the Martyrs’ group said that, in countries like Nigeria, «Easter is often a season of peril. Holy days on the Christian calendar, including Christmas and Easter, are often times when those who hate the Gospel target our brothers and sisters in violent attacks.»

Open Doors’ Blythe said, «The fear of being brutally attacked will hang over millions of Christians across Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa, as they prepare for Easter, a festival that should be the most joyful moment in the Christian calendar. We will be praying that Christians around the world will be safe and free to celebrate and worship jubilantly this Eastertide.»

Fox News Digital reached out to the Nigerian government for comment but received no response.