Spain Moves to Revoke Citizenship of 78 Babies in Birth Tourism Scheme

The Moroccan mothers of these babies entered Melilla to give birth at the regional hospital, where a very active criminal network offered them to register the newborns in the Spanish civil registry in exchange for a large sum of money. The organization "put these young mothers in contact with men of Spanish nationality, mostly of Moroccan origin, who recognized the children as their own, in exchange for a payment between 1,500 and 3,000 euros," the National Police said in a statement.

Thus, the newborns automatically acquired Spanish nationality, which allowed their mothers to be in order and "initiate procedures to obtain a residence permit as a parent of a Spanish minor," reports El Pais, specifying that the government delegation has already initiated procedures to withdraw the residence permit from the mothers and has asked the prosecutor’s office to withdraw the Spanish nationality from the babies.

In total, 117 people, including Moroccan mothers, fictitious fathers and intermediaries, are involved in this case, according to the police, who say they have already arrested 79 (51 in Melilla, 28 on the peninsula) and are looking for 38 others. They will be prosecuted for violation of the rights of foreigners, false documents and membership in a criminal organization.