There is a distinct human attachment to the piece of land that someone is born on. It's irrational but our human mind is wired this way. I can never be president no matter how much of a patriot I am.

Um, no. My son was born in another country and he has no attachment to it. Doesn't even want to visit. He's an adult now so I don't think he will change his mind. His "human mind" is not wired in the way yours appears to be wired.

Very, very common in major city hospitals.

I'm a hard left liberal and I think it's an egregious loophole. That said, when they come here via airplanes and pay cash for their birth (plus a few months of recovery time), they are the type of immigrants we actually want to attract to the US - upper middle class, entrepreneurial, etc. Also, their kids will need to pay U.S. taxes on their global earnings if they wish to continue holding their citizenship. Even if they've never lived in the U.S. for one day. U.S. citizenship is NOT free.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:give birth so you can have a US citizen child and then returning to your home country?

I think it probably isn't anywhere near as common as nativist zealots would have us believe (cue anecdotes unsupported by actual data from said zealots).

It happens but its not the population that the lunatic nationalists hate. No poor Honduran woman has enough money to fly in to have her anchor babies. These are rich people who want their children to have dual citizenship. They take the babies back to their home country after they give birth.

Anonymous wrote:Are these expensive first-class tickets? Because that might make a difference. <-- sarcasm

Actually, the process does pretty much self select for at least middle class foreigners. You can't fly 8.5 months pregnant, and you can be denied entry if the border folks think you lack the means to cover any medical care you require in the US. So, you need to have at least 3 months free (you don't need the income), plus a plane ticket, and proof that you can basically pay your maternity bill in cash.

Anonymous wrote:give birth so you can have a US citizen child and then returning to your home country?

I think it probably isn't anywhere near as common as nativist zealots would have us believe (cue anecdotes unsupported by actual data from said zealots).

Are these expensive first-class tickets? Because that might make a difference. <-- sarcasm

OP are you aware that this is a practice done WAY more by rich chinese people for dual citizenship than by poor hispanic people to have an excuse to stay?

Very popular among Russia's middle and upper middle class women. Miami is the preferred location. Fly in and out, enjoy sunshine for a few months, return home when feel recuperated and ready. I think about $40K is the going rate. Legal as could be.

Did you know that anyone willing to invest $1 million in the U.S. can get a green card and bring their whole family with them?

https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-through-job/green-card-through-investment

Anonymous wrote:How many other countries allow this to be legal? That children born in the country are automatic citizens?

My mom is and OB and this is SO common. People fly in from Europe and central America the most to give birth.

I don't recall if this is still the law, but US-born babies of immigrants cannot stay or help their parents gain legal status until he/she becomes 18, works, and can financially support the parents as a sponsor. Anyone more familiar with the laws who can chime in?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We should amend the Constitution so that this is no longer an option.
Illegal immigration would be reduced significantly if we did.

+1001. This was obviously not something our forefathers thought of when drafting the Constitution. Travel was slow and arduous back then and once you were here, you were likely to stay. As much as I dislike Trump, I am considering voting for him for immigration. Our policies have to change.

Trump has changed his policies and now says Obama is deporting too many, the most ever, and that he has a big heart. You know what that means right. No more Big Wall and no more stopping muslims, just because they are muslims. By the time November comes Trump is gonna say "illegal immigration is an act of love". But then the stupid trumpsters wont get that they have been conned but their lil ego makes them vote for the guy who has chained them. Its called Stockholm syndrome.

“President Obama has mass deported vast numbers of people -- the most ever, and it’s never reported. I think people are going to find that I have not only the best policies, but I will have the biggest heart of anybody,” Trump said.

http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-06-25/trump-says-immigration-plan-wouldn-t-feature-mass-deportations

How many other countries allow this to be legal? That children born in the country are automatic citizens?

My mom is and OB and this is SO common. People fly in from Europe and central America the most to give birth.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Happens a lot on my maternity floor. Self pay, wealthy, educated. Wil they come back? Who knows

These types are an asset. Charge them more for the birth in order to reduce health costs for others here. No doubt they are on tourist visas. The ones who come in illegally and cannot afford to pay for the birth are an issue.

Also, maybe Americans can take a lesson and fly to other countries to give birth so that they too have dual citizenship (this may happen more if Trump is elected). Maybe some people on DCUM know of countries where this is possible?

Do it. Google "citizenship by birthright countries" and you'll see your choices are very limited. Most countries in the Americas have it and I wonder why. Not. Once again, times have changed, but the Constitution hasn't kept up. the amendments that have been made maybe aren't enough.

You wonder why a group of immigrants and descendants of immigrants would write a Constitution protecting the rights of immigrants?

Someone born on American soil is not an immigrant, but a natural-born American. The law therefore protects Americans, not immigrants.

There is a distinct human attachment to the piece of land that someone is born on. It's irrational but our human mind is wired this way. I can never be president no matter how much of a patriot I am.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We should amend the Constitution so that this is no longer an option.
Illegal immigration would be reduced significantly if we did.

+1001. This was obviously not something our forefathers thought of when drafting the Constitution. Travel was slow and arduous back then and once you were here, you were likely to stay. As much as I dislike Trump, I am considering voting for him for immigration. Our policies have to change.

Does Herr Drumpf have a proposal for unilaterally suspending or annuling the Constitution?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Happens a lot on my maternity floor. Self pay, wealthy, educated. Wil they come back? Who knows

These types are an asset. Charge them more for the birth in order to reduce health costs for others here. No doubt they are on tourist visas. The ones who come in illegally and cannot afford to pay for the birth are an issue.

Also, maybe Americans can take a lesson and fly to other countries to give birth so that they too have dual citizenship (this may happen more if Trump is elected). Maybe some people on DCUM know of countries where this is possible?

Do it. Google "citizenship by birthright countries" and you'll see your choices are very limited. Most countries in the Americas have it and I wonder why. Not. Once again, times have changed, but the Constitution hasn't kept up. the amendments that have been made maybe aren't enough.

Canada has birthright citizenship. You need a passport now to go and come back, though, not just a driver's license.