BAW
The Flower
According to an article in the LA Times today, it has become very fashionable for upper class, well-to-do North Korean women to come to the United States during the latter stages of pregnacy specifically to give birth to a US citizen.
Their reasons for doing so range from avoidance of mandatory military service, getting their children into the best American schools to a better chance at future residency in the US.
These women time their trip to the US (on a 3 month tourist visa) for the last few months of their pregnancy, disguised by baggy clothing to get around the flying restrictions and return home immediately after the birth. US Immigration says "there is nothing inherently illegal about coming to the US for the sole purpose of giving birth to a US citizen" therefore the practice cannot be limited or stopped.
The practice has become so common that there are now "faciliators" who help direct the women to a Korean speaking ob/gyn, obtain the birth certificate and Social Security card, etc. There is even a special hotel which caters to the women after they give birth including a limo ride to the airport when they are aready to go back home. The average cost of the trip and the birth is $20,000, usually paid in cash.
There are over 5,000 of these births each year which works out to 1 in 10 North Korean children being born a US citizen. A child can have dual US/Korean citizenship until the age of 18 and then must choose one or the other. Obviously if someone pays this much money to give birth in foreign country, the chance of them holding onto the their Korean citizenship is slim and none.
Obviously only the wealthiest north Korean families can do this which leaves the poorest wondering if their sons will be the only segment of the population to serve the mandatory military service.
I know that America is supposed to be the melting pot and I know that if it wasn't for my ancestors coming here from Europe, I wouldn't be here but is it right for someone with enough money to buy their ticket to the US by giving birth here? Do other countries have this "if you're born here, you're a citizen" policy?
I'm not anti-immigrant by any means. I just wonder why this country issues visas to well off "tourists" who are here with an ulterior motive and I couldn't get a visa for my former mother-in-law in Mexico to visit over the Christmas holidays. Apparently our government feels that if you are wealthy enough and own property in your native country, you have something to go back to but if you're a poor person with nothing but a 1 room dirt floor house, you don't have any reason to go home so you'll overstay your visa.
Their reasons for doing so range from avoidance of mandatory military service, getting their children into the best American schools to a better chance at future residency in the US.
These women time their trip to the US (on a 3 month tourist visa) for the last few months of their pregnancy, disguised by baggy clothing to get around the flying restrictions and return home immediately after the birth. US Immigration says "there is nothing inherently illegal about coming to the US for the sole purpose of giving birth to a US citizen" therefore the practice cannot be limited or stopped.
The practice has become so common that there are now "faciliators" who help direct the women to a Korean speaking ob/gyn, obtain the birth certificate and Social Security card, etc. There is even a special hotel which caters to the women after they give birth including a limo ride to the airport when they are aready to go back home. The average cost of the trip and the birth is $20,000, usually paid in cash.
There are over 5,000 of these births each year which works out to 1 in 10 North Korean children being born a US citizen. A child can have dual US/Korean citizenship until the age of 18 and then must choose one or the other. Obviously if someone pays this much money to give birth in foreign country, the chance of them holding onto the their Korean citizenship is slim and none.
Obviously only the wealthiest north Korean families can do this which leaves the poorest wondering if their sons will be the only segment of the population to serve the mandatory military service.
I know that America is supposed to be the melting pot and I know that if it wasn't for my ancestors coming here from Europe, I wouldn't be here but is it right for someone with enough money to buy their ticket to the US by giving birth here? Do other countries have this "if you're born here, you're a citizen" policy?
I'm not anti-immigrant by any means. I just wonder why this country issues visas to well off "tourists" who are here with an ulterior motive and I couldn't get a visa for my former mother-in-law in Mexico to visit over the Christmas holidays. Apparently our government feels that if you are wealthy enough and own property in your native country, you have something to go back to but if you're a poor person with nothing but a 1 room dirt floor house, you don't have any reason to go home so you'll overstay your visa.
