CIS: Nearly 200,000 Children Born in U.S. to Temporary Foreign Visitors
A new report by the Center for Immigration Studies finds that 200,000 children were born to women who were lawfully admitted to the United States on a temporary basis. These 200,000 children receive automatic citizenship to the United States despite the mother's allegiance to another nation. The Birthright Citizenship Act of 2011 (H.R.140) would end the practice of birthright citizenship.
In addition to CIS' finding on births to foreign visitors, the report also found that 300,000 children are born to children of illegal alien parents each year.
Of the 200,000 children born to visitors, CIS found that in 20% of the cases (39,000), the mother came to the United States for the sole purpose of giving birth - a practice known as birth tourism. Another 20,000 births are estimated to young foreign women who reside in the United States for temporary stays of multiple years such as students and guest workers.
The Center for Immigration Studies pointed out in their study that any discussion of births to foreign visitors must consider national security implications.
The United States is one of two developed nations (Canada) to offer automatic citizenship to all children born in the country.
For the complete study, see CIS.org.