New visa rules target birth tourism
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is imposing new visa rules aimed at restricting “birth tourism,” in which women travel to the United States to give birth so their children can have U.S. citizenship. The regulations, which take effect today, address one of President Donald Trump’s main political priorities.
The regulations seek to chip away at the number of foreigners who take advantage of the constitutional provision granting “birthright citizenship” to anyone born in the United States, a particular peeve of Mr. Trump’s. Under the new rules, pregnant applicants will be denied a tourist visa unless they can prove they must come to the U.S. to give birth for medical reasons and they have money to pay for it or have another compelling reason — not just because they want their child to have an American passport.
Officials said that consular officers will not be asking all female visa applicants of child-bearing age whether they are pregnant or intend to get pregnant. Rather, they said consular officers would ask the question only if they had reason to believe the applicant is pregnant and likely or planning to give birth in the U.S.
Visual cues such as appearing to be pregnant or listing “medical treatment” as a reason for wanting to travel to the United States might trigger such questioning, the officials said. Even if a woman is found to be pregnant and likely to deliver her child in the United States, she could still be granted a visa if she was able to demonstrate a valid reason for the travel such a visiting an ailing relative or attending a business meeting or conference, they said.
Officials said the rule will only apply to applicants for so-called “B” class visas that permit short-term stays for business or pleasure.
Sciorra testifies at trial
In emotional testimony with vivid detail, actress Annabella Sciorra testified Thursday that Harvey Weinstein barged into her apartment 25 years ago and raped her.
“The Sopranos” actress said the movie mogul raped and sexually assaulted her at her Manhattan apartment in the winter of 19931994. She first publicly spoke about the attack in an October 2017 New Yorker story as part of a wave of accusations against him.
The searing testimony in State Supreme Court in Manhattan marked the first time that one of Mr. Weinstein’s numerous accusers took the stand against him at a long-awaited criminal trial that has come to symbolize the #MeToo movement.
Seattle shooting arrest
SEATTLE — One of three suspects has been arrested and booked into jail following the shooting Wednesday in downtown Seattle that killed a woman and injured seven other people including a 9-year-old boy, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan said Thursday.
The shooting followed a dispute outside a McDonald’s, according to police Chief Carmen Best.
The dispute involved the three suspects, each of whom was carrying a handgun, Chief Best said. Officers who were already working in the area were on the scene within 15 seconds, Ms. Durkan said.
Chief Best said the man arrested had been injured in the shooting and was located by police at Harborview Medical Center.
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President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he will attend today’s March for Life, the annual gathering of antiabortion protesters to commemorate the anniversary of Roe v. Wade.