FAIR estimates birthright citizenship drains $150.7 billion from U.S. public coffers each year
The Federation for American Immigration Reform reports that birthright citizenship costs federal, state and local taxpayers $150.7 billion annually, largely due to birth-tourism and commercial surrogacy.
According to the Federation for American Immigration Reform, birthright citizenship imposes an annual cost of $150.7 billion on U.S. taxpayers, with education accounting for half of the outlay and the rest covering health-care and nutritional aid. Analysts argue that broad readings of the 14th Amendment allow organized birth-tourism and commercial surrogacy networks to flourish, especially in California, New York and Florida.
A high-profile surrogacy case in Los Angeles County, where Guojun Xuan and Silvia Zhang face multiple child-abuse charges, underscores the legal complexities. In response, the president signed executive orders in August 2026 targeting birth tourism and defending the value of American citizenship. FAIR’s director Mateo Forero stresses that executive action alone is insufficient, urging Congress to consider legislation or a constitutional amendment. The group also warns that foreign adversaries may exploit citizenship rules to secure U.S. status for children who later reside abroad.
Why it matters
The claimed $150.7 billion cost highlights how birthright citizenship policies may strain public resources and raise security concerns.
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