Anchor baby facts for kids

"Anchor baby" is a term that some people find offensive. It is used to describe a child born in a country where simply being born there makes you a citizen. This is called birthright citizenship. The idea behind the term is that the child's citizenship might help their mother or other family members gain legal residency in that country.

In the United States, this term is often used in discussions about immigration. It refers to a child who automatically becomes an American citizen because they were born in the U.S., thanks to the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. A similar term, "passport baby," is used in Canada for children born through what is sometimes called "birth tourism" (traveling to a country specifically to give birth there).

Understanding the Term

The term "anchor baby" has been around for a while, but it became more widely known around 2006, especially during debates about immigration in the United States. Many people consider this term to be offensive because it suggests that a child is born only to serve a purpose for their family's immigration status, rather than being seen as an individual.

In 2011, the American Heritage Dictionary added "anchor baby" to its list of words. After some discussion, the dictionary updated its definition to clearly state that the term is "offensive." This means it's a word that can hurt or insult people, similar to other disrespectful terms. For example, in 2012, Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff said that using the term "anchor baby" for a child was offensive.

What is Birth Tourism?

"Birth tourism" is when a pregnant woman travels to another country specifically to give birth there. The main goal is for the child to gain citizenship in that country, which has birthright citizenship. For example, Los Angeles in the U.S. has been a popular place for this, especially for wealthy women from other countries. Businesses sometimes set up "maternity hotels" to help these women.

It's not illegal for a pregnant woman to travel to the U.S. However, if someone lies about why they are coming to the U.S. (for example, saying they are a tourist when their main goal is to give birth for citizenship), that can be against U.S. immigration rules. Since 2020, U.S. officials can deny visas to people they believe are traveling mainly to give birth in the U.S. to get citizenship for their child.

Ireland's Citizenship Change

In 2005, Ireland changed its constitution. It became the last country in Europe to stop giving automatic citizenship to everyone born on its soil, if their parents were not citizens. This change happened because of worries about birth tourism.

Citizenship in the United States

The Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution says that "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States." This means that almost everyone born in the U.S. is a citizen, even if their parents are not.

The Supreme Court of the United States confirmed this in a case called United States v. Wong Kim Ark in 1898. This ruling said that the Fourteenth Amendment guarantees citizenship for most people born in the U.S., as long as their parents are not diplomats or officials from another country.

Many legal experts agree that this rule applies even to children born in the U.S. to parents who are living there without legal permission. For example, in a 1982 Supreme Court case called Plyler v. Doe, the court said that people living in the U.S. without legal permission are still protected by its laws. This means they are "subject to the jurisdiction" of the U.S., just like legal residents.

What are the Benefits of a Child's Citizenship?

Some people believe that immigrants come to the U.S. just to have a child who will be an American citizen. However, the benefits of this for the parents are often limited and take a very long time to happen.

• A child who is a U.S. citizen cannot sponsor their parents to come to the country until the child is 21 years old.
• Even then, if the parent had been in the country without legal permission, they might have to leave the U.S. and not return for at least ten years before they can apply to come back legally.
• Pregnant and nursing mothers can sometimes get food vouchers through federal programs like WIC (Women, Infants and Children) and enroll their children in Medicaid for healthcare.

So, while having a child who is a citizen can offer some help, it's usually a very long and uncertain process for parents to gain citizenship themselves. Studies suggest that most immigrants come to the U.S. looking for work and a better life, not just for their children to get quick citizenship.

Incidence and Trends

The number of children born in the U.S. to immigrant parents has increased. In 2008, about 73% of children of immigrant parents in the U.S. were citizens, up from 63% in 2003. This means that millions of immigrant parents have at least one child who is an American citizen.

There has been a growing trend, especially among visitors from places like Hong Kong, China, South Korea, Taiwan, and Nigeria, to use "Birth Hotels" in the U.S. These facilities help pregnant women stay in the U.S. for their final months of pregnancy and after birth. The goal is for their baby to get U.S. citizenship and a U.S. passport. This can open up possibilities for the parents to immigrate to the U.S. in the future.

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See also

In Spanish: Bebé ancla para niños