PolitiFact is reporting that a debate continues over "birth tourism" following a Supreme Court decision affirming birthright citizenship. It said allies of President Donald Trump, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Sen. Lindsey Graham, claim the practice is being abused. PolitiFact noted that the exact number of women traveling to the U.S. specifically to give birth for citizenship is unclear, with estimates ranging from 5,000 to 26,000 annually out of 3.6 million total births in 2025. Research by Penn State sociologist Nicole Kreisberg suggests that while the majority of such births are to Hispanic mothers, particularly from Mexico, their education levels do not align with the narrative of accessing public benefits. The Justice Department has prosecuted such schemes under multiple administrations.
PolitiFact also issued several fact-checks this week. It rated as Half True Trump's claim that the Supreme Court "RULED AGAINST MEN PLAYING IN WOMEN’S SPORTS." It said the ruling allows states to determine eligibility based on biological sex, meaning states can exclude transgender athletes, but also allows states that permit them to continue doing so. An ad claiming Sen. Susan Collins "sided with Trump" on the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" was rated False; PolitiFact said Collins voted against the bill's passage, citing Medicaid cuts. A claim that Sen. Jon Ossoff "cast the deciding vote for the inflation disaster" (referring to the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act) was also rated False, as Ossoff was one of 50 Democrats who voted for the bill, with then-Vice President Kamala Harris casting the tie-breaking vote. PolitiFact noted the bill had little effect on inflation, which was already easing.
Separately, PolitiFact rated as False Sen. Tommy Tuberville's claim that the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act would "go to a lot of people that are here illegally to build houses for them." It found nothing in the legislation specifically benefiting people in the U.S. illegally, who are already denied most federal housing assistance. The bill aims to increase housing supply and lower costs for anyone in the market.
PolitiFact reported that social media users shared misleading videos of building collapses and people trapped, falsely attributing them to recent Venezuela earthquakes. It provided a guide to debunk five such posts, noting that while many videos are authentic, some are not from the June 24 disaster that killed over 1,900 people.
PolitiFact's MAGA-Meter updated Trump's campaign promises: "End birthright citizenship" is Promise Broken, "Count all votes by election night" is Promise Broken, and "Ban trans women from women’s school sports" is In the Works.