Pros And Cons Of Birthright Citizenship
Birthright citizenship
1.) A. Research the term "birth tourism" and how birth tourism impacts (or may impact) our system and resources. B. Which areas in the U.S. are seeing the most birth tourism?
a. Birth tourism, mainly Chinese women, travel to give birth in the U.S so that their children will be U.S citizens, also called Anchor babies. After getting the citizenship for the baby, most parents return to their home country. Their plan being to send their children to college in America, once old enough. The rise of Chinese anchor babies appears to have a more direct benefit to the U.S economy. New York and California seem to be the motherland of birth tourism. According to the IIE (Institute for International Education), in 2011-12 school years, $22 billon was funded by foreign students. Asian-Americans have the highest ratio of science and engineering graduates to population. These STEM graduates also tend to pursue higher education, their ration being 3-to-1 for doctorates degree-to-population. Many of these graduates prefer to stay in the U.S after graduation and fill the innovation essential skilled …show more content…
jobs but not many can be granted work visas due to the 20,000 limit. The number of work visas was reduced from 195,00 to 85,000 per year, 20,000 of that reserved for foreign graduates with masters or doctorates.
2.) From which countries are we seeing most activity?
a. The Unites States, Canada and Mexico seem to be the top 3 popular choices that people choose to give birth in for citizenship rights. The reason may be because the U.S and Canada are the only industrialized countries in the world to still allow birthright citizenship to tourist and illegal immigrants. Some actually use this as a deportation defense, while others want their children to live a life better than there, which in my opinion seems justified. Though behind most actions, lie selfish reasons like parents using their anchor babies, once grown, to pull them to the united states. However, it's important to note that having an "anchor baby" won't do much to help a Mexican mom become a U.S. citizen. Because citizen children cannot sponsor their parents for citizenship until they turn 21 -- and because if the parents were ever illegal, they would have to return home for 10 years before applying to come in -- having a baby to secure citizenship for its parents is an extremely long-term, and uncertain, process.
3.) What are some of the economic pros and cons of birth tourism in the United States?
a.
I think the answers to this question vary depending on the writer’s point of view, but I think there’s as many perks as there are cons to this phenomenon. Looking at the bright side, birthright citizenship increases diversity in countries. Having individuals from different backgrounds encourages unique perspectives on everything. But if the U.S were to change the interpretation of the 14th amendment, illegal immigration would possibly decrease depending on their incentives. Though it sounds like a good thing, changing the amendment would take years and thousands to complete. As well as, cause confusion and conflict for those of those that are birthright citizens of those immigrants prior to the enactment. Changing an amendment of the constitution would most likely also open doors to a lot of other problems that people will push for, seeing that it has been
done.
4.) How does the 14th Amendment impact the issue of citizenship and what are the arguments currently regarding a possible reinterpretation of the 14th Amendment?
a. Some argue that the Amendment promises citizenship to “all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof,” which doesn’t include those who entered the country illegally. Currently the argument is that the correct interpretation of the 14th Amendment is that an illegal alien mother is subject to the jurisdiction of her native country, as is her baby. The Court essentially stated that the status of the parents determines the citizenship of the child. To qualify children for birthright citizenship, based on the 14th Amendment, parents must owe "direct and immediate allegiance" to the U.S. and be "completely subject" to its jurisdiction. In other words, they must be United States citizens.
5.) Finally, based on your reading and research, what are your thoughts about this issue? Do you believe the 14th Amendment should be reinterpreted to require one parent be an American citizen? Why or why not? Do you believe U.S. citizenship should be harder to come by? Why or why not?
a. I don’t think it’s the right thing to do, but in some cases it’s the only thing to do. Parents see this as an insurance policy should economic conditions get worse in their home countries. They view the child’s citizenship as a way to help them get into a good U.S college and get the right education. It does not come at a cheap cost, parents are said to spend around $30,000 at the least to live and give birth in the united states. I am not a hundred percent sure how I feel about this though because I know it was a “thing,” I just had no idea it was an issue. In some cases, I feel like it is a justified action for parents to take in order to insure a good life for their children but at the same time, they are selfish reasons.
1.) A. Research the term "birth tourism" and how birth tourism impacts (or may impact) our system and resources. B. Which areas in the U.S. are seeing the most birth tourism?
a. Birth tourism, mainly Chinese women, travel to give birth in the U.S so that their children will be U.S citizens, also called Anchor babies. After getting the citizenship for the baby, most parents return to their home country. Their plan being to send their children to college in America, once old enough. The rise of Chinese anchor babies appears to have a more direct benefit to the U.S economy. New York and California seem to be the motherland of birth tourism. According to the IIE (Institute for International Education), in 2011-12 school years, $22 billon was funded by foreign students. Asian-Americans have the highest ratio of science and engineering graduates to population. These STEM graduates also tend to pursue higher education, their ration being 3-to-1 for doctorates degree-to-population. Many of these graduates prefer to stay in the U.S after graduation and fill the innovation essential skilled …show more content…
jobs but not many can be granted work visas due to the 20,000 limit. The number of work visas was reduced from 195,00 to 85,000 per year, 20,000 of that reserved for foreign graduates with masters or doctorates.
2.) From which countries are we seeing most activity?
a. The Unites States, Canada and Mexico seem to be the top 3 popular choices that people choose to give birth in for citizenship rights. The reason may be because the U.S and Canada are the only industrialized countries in the world to still allow birthright citizenship to tourist and illegal immigrants. Some actually use this as a deportation defense, while others want their children to live a life better than there, which in my opinion seems justified. Though behind most actions, lie selfish reasons like parents using their anchor babies, once grown, to pull them to the united states. However, it's important to note that having an "anchor baby" won't do much to help a Mexican mom become a U.S. citizen. Because citizen children cannot sponsor their parents for citizenship until they turn 21 -- and because if the parents were ever illegal, they would have to return home for 10 years before applying to come in -- having a baby to secure citizenship for its parents is an extremely long-term, and uncertain, process.
3.) What are some of the economic pros and cons of birth tourism in the United States?
a.
I think the answers to this question vary depending on the writer’s point of view, but I think there’s as many perks as there are cons to this phenomenon. Looking at the bright side, birthright citizenship increases diversity in countries. Having individuals from different backgrounds encourages unique perspectives on everything. But if the U.S were to change the interpretation of the 14th amendment, illegal immigration would possibly decrease depending on their incentives. Though it sounds like a good thing, changing the amendment would take years and thousands to complete. As well as, cause confusion and conflict for those of those that are birthright citizens of those immigrants prior to the enactment. Changing an amendment of the constitution would most likely also open doors to a lot of other problems that people will push for, seeing that it has been
done.
4.) How does the 14th Amendment impact the issue of citizenship and what are the arguments currently regarding a possible reinterpretation of the 14th Amendment?
a. Some argue that the Amendment promises citizenship to “all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof,” which doesn’t include those who entered the country illegally. Currently the argument is that the correct interpretation of the 14th Amendment is that an illegal alien mother is subject to the jurisdiction of her native country, as is her baby. The Court essentially stated that the status of the parents determines the citizenship of the child. To qualify children for birthright citizenship, based on the 14th Amendment, parents must owe "direct and immediate allegiance" to the U.S. and be "completely subject" to its jurisdiction. In other words, they must be United States citizens.
5.) Finally, based on your reading and research, what are your thoughts about this issue? Do you believe the 14th Amendment should be reinterpreted to require one parent be an American citizen? Why or why not? Do you believe U.S. citizenship should be harder to come by? Why or why not?
a. I don’t think it’s the right thing to do, but in some cases it’s the only thing to do. Parents see this as an insurance policy should economic conditions get worse in their home countries. They view the child’s citizenship as a way to help them get into a good U.S college and get the right education. It does not come at a cheap cost, parents are said to spend around $30,000 at the least to live and give birth in the united states. I am not a hundred percent sure how I feel about this though because I know it was a “thing,” I just had no idea it was an issue. In some cases, I feel like it is a justified action for parents to take in order to insure a good life for their children but at the same time, they are selfish reasons.