"I have an American citizenship but I am not an American!"
Author: Freya Urban
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"I have an American citizenship but I am not an American!"
These words sound strange. An American citizenship without being an American?
The keyword is birth tourism. It describes the activity of foreigners coming to a country to bear a baby there and consequently getting the citizenship of that country for the newborn. The pregnant women or parents enter the country either legally with a kind of temporary visa or illegally and leave it after having given birth and having received the citizenship including all official papers for the child that mostly grows up in its parents' country. It might end up living in the USA or just use the advantages of the citizenship later.
There are no official statistics about birth tourism, but some unofficial figures indicate a growing birth rate of these babies of about 2,500 within eight years and the popularity of birth tourism rises, not least because of its legal status.
The USA and Canada belong to the few remaining countries offering a citizenship to everyone born on their soil but the growing problems have led to a debate within these states. Hospitals complain about foreign parents leaving with their newborn without paying the bill that ultimately the state has to pay. It is seen as an exploitation of the state's generosity and people taking advantage of the loophole in the law should be condemned. Besides, customs and border protection officers cannot do anything against it. They note the actual date and planned duration of stay of pregnant women but they cannot refuse these women, even if the intention to bear a baby in this country is obvious.
Further problems refer to unscrupulous immigration consultants encouraging pregnant women of travelling illegally. They coach them for a fee regarding aspects such as how to avoid a detection of their pregnancy at the border, how to apply for the citizenship and telling them about the future advantages resulting from it. Then there are birth tourism centres especially widespread in the USA. They are criticised because of taking advantage of the citizenship rule to make business and not giving anything in return for this. Foreign travel agencies selling travel packages for about $ 14,500 to interested pregnant women profit from this fact, too. A package includes staying in a centre, catering, assistance with authorities, childcare, shopping and sightseeing trips. Hospital costs of $ 10,000 are not included. So the governments think about a modification of the law. Nevertheless, they have to notice that birth tourists contribute to the local economy while going shopping and doing sightseeing.
In contrast to these plans, changing the law or rather a prevention of birth tourism would not fit to the constitution that guarantees citizenship to everyone born in these countries. It would be unrealistic and contrary to their fundamental nature. This law was actually aimed to provide citizenship right to freed black slaves, so there are demands for other measures not concerning ethical aspects.
The view of mainly Chinese birth tourists has also to be recognized. They want a better future for their children. This can only be ensured by giving birth in a foreign country. An American or Canadian citizenship can provide several advantages such as a better education. A full schooling in the USA is cheaper than one at a Chinese private school. Besides, the working conditions are more competitive and fair. In China people cannot get a highly-paid job or access to a good university without having personal connections. Moreover, there would be fewer worries regarding visa and later the child can serve as an anchor for a legal immigration for the entire family. Another really serious aspect refers to the Chinese one-child policy. Women getting more than one baby must pay a fine of about $ 95,000. The pressures and control through their state are so high that the women prefer to give birth in the USA or Canada. However, China might benefit if it allowed them to bear a second child in their country instead of indirectly sending money to a foreign one.
In the future more and more people might have a country's citizenship to which they do not have a relationship. Governments have to pay attention to this and to search for solutions because this will lead to a loss of identity and even one day to a big loss of control.
References:
Huang, P. (2008). Anchor Babies, Over-Breeders, and the Population Bomb: The Reemergence of Nativism and Population Control in Anti-Immigration Policies. [Online] Available through: http://www.hlpronline.com/Huang_HLPR.pdf [Accessed: 27th April 2012].
Schecter, A. (2011). Born in the U.S.A.: Birth tourists get instant U.S. citizenship for their newborns. [Online] Available through: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32027560 [Accessed: 29th April 2012].
Yelaja, P. (2012). 'Birth tourism' may change citizenship rules. CBC News.[Online] Available through: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/03/02/birth-immigration-citizenship.html [Accessed: 28th April 2012].
These words sound strange. An American citizenship without being an American?
The keyword is birth tourism. It describes the activity of foreigners coming to a country to bear a baby there and consequently getting the citizenship of that country for the newborn. The pregnant women or parents enter the country either legally with a kind of temporary visa or illegally and leave it after having given birth and having received the citizenship including all official papers for the child that mostly grows up in its parents' country. It might end up living in the USA or just use the advantages of the citizenship later.
There are no official statistics about birth tourism, but some unofficial figures indicate a growing birth rate of these babies of about 2,500 within eight years and the popularity of birth tourism rises, not least because of its legal status.
The USA and Canada belong to the few remaining countries offering a citizenship to everyone born on their soil but the growing problems have led to a debate within these states. Hospitals complain about foreign parents leaving with their newborn without paying the bill that ultimately the state has to pay. It is seen as an exploitation of the state's generosity and people taking advantage of the loophole in the law should be condemned. Besides, customs and border protection officers cannot do anything against it. They note the actual date and planned duration of stay of pregnant women but they cannot refuse these women, even if the intention to bear a baby in this country is obvious.
Further problems refer to unscrupulous immigration consultants encouraging pregnant women of travelling illegally. They coach them for a fee regarding aspects such as how to avoid a detection of their pregnancy at the border, how to apply for the citizenship and telling them about the future advantages resulting from it. Then there are birth tourism centres especially widespread in the USA. They are criticised because of taking advantage of the citizenship rule to make business and not giving anything in return for this. Foreign travel agencies selling travel packages for about $ 14,500 to interested pregnant women profit from this fact, too. A package includes staying in a centre, catering, assistance with authorities, childcare, shopping and sightseeing trips. Hospital costs of $ 10,000 are not included. So the governments think about a modification of the law. Nevertheless, they have to notice that birth tourists contribute to the local economy while going shopping and doing sightseeing.
In contrast to these plans, changing the law or rather a prevention of birth tourism would not fit to the constitution that guarantees citizenship to everyone born in these countries. It would be unrealistic and contrary to their fundamental nature. This law was actually aimed to provide citizenship right to freed black slaves, so there are demands for other measures not concerning ethical aspects.
The view of mainly Chinese birth tourists has also to be recognized. They want a better future for their children. This can only be ensured by giving birth in a foreign country. An American or Canadian citizenship can provide several advantages such as a better education. A full schooling in the USA is cheaper than one at a Chinese private school. Besides, the working conditions are more competitive and fair. In China people cannot get a highly-paid job or access to a good university without having personal connections. Moreover, there would be fewer worries regarding visa and later the child can serve as an anchor for a legal immigration for the entire family. Another really serious aspect refers to the Chinese one-child policy. Women getting more than one baby must pay a fine of about $ 95,000. The pressures and control through their state are so high that the women prefer to give birth in the USA or Canada. However, China might benefit if it allowed them to bear a second child in their country instead of indirectly sending money to a foreign one.
In the future more and more people might have a country's citizenship to which they do not have a relationship. Governments have to pay attention to this and to search for solutions because this will lead to a loss of identity and even one day to a big loss of control.
References:
Huang, P. (2008). Anchor Babies, Over-Breeders, and the Population Bomb: The Reemergence of Nativism and Population Control in Anti-Immigration Policies. [Online] Available through: http://www.hlpronline.com/Huang_HLPR.pdf [Accessed: 27th April 2012].
Schecter, A. (2011). Born in the U.S.A.: Birth tourists get instant U.S. citizenship for their newborns. [Online] Available through: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32027560 [Accessed: 29th April 2012].
Yelaja, P. (2012). 'Birth tourism' may change citizenship rules. CBC News.[Online] Available through: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/03/02/birth-immigration-citizenship.html [Accessed: 28th April 2012].