In a data photo, a sea view from a resort hotel in Saipan is shown. Saipan, the capital of the Northern Mariana Islands, is the only U.S. territory that offers visa exemption for Chinese citizens, making it a popular destination for some Chinese 'birth tourists.' (January 2025)
[People News] As the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to rule next month on the constitutionality of President Donald Trump’s executive order that limits birthright citizenship, Republican lawmakers are renewing their focus on the issue of 'birth tourism' by Chinese citizens travelling to the United States. They argue that birthright citizenship is one of the most critical systems in the U.S., yet it is increasingly exploited as a loophole in the immigration system. They are urging the government to take action to close these loopholes related to birthright citizenship.
Voice of America reported that the Senate Judiciary Committee's Constitution Subcommittee held a hearing on Tuesday (March 10) titled 'Protecting American Citizenship: Birthright Citizenship for Illegal Immigrants and Temporary Visitors.' During his opening remarks, Subcommittee Chairman Eric Schmitt highlighted the systematic abuse of unlimited birthright citizenship by illegal immigrants and 'birth tourists,' specifically mentioning the 'birth tourism' of Chinese citizens to the United States.
China has been sending individuals to the United States to give birth, leading to as many as 1.5 million Chinese citizens acquiring U.S. citizenship. These individuals have spent their entire lives in China, yet they are able to vote in U.S. elections, enrol in American schools, and access benefits from the U.S. government. President Trump’s executive order has compelled the United States to address this issue directly. It poses a fundamental question: Does the U.S. Constitution mandate automatic citizenship for the children of illegal immigrants or temporary visitors?" Schmidt stated.
Schmidt highlighted that the misuse of the citizenship clause of the Fourteenth Amendment by illegal immigrants and temporary visitors contradicts its original purpose and U.S. immigration law. He pointed out that citizenship is one of the most serious institutions in the United States, yet it is increasingly perceived as a loophole within the immigration system.
"Foreign nationals travel to the United States during late pregnancy with the intention of securing U.S. citizenship for their children. This has given rise to a complete birth tourism industry. Illegal immigration is rooted in the belief that children born in the U.S. will automatically gain citizenship. One of the most serious institutions in the American republican system is increasingly viewed as a loophole in the immigration framework," Schmidt added.
The Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution, ratified in 1868, states that all persons born or naturalised in the United States and subject to its jurisdiction are citizens of the United States and of the state in which they reside. This principle established birthright citizenship (jus soli).
On the first day of his second term, President Trump signed an executive order that abolishes birthright citizenship. This order specifies that newborns whose parents are neither U.S. citizens nor lawful permanent residents (commonly referred to as 'green card' holders) will not automatically receive U.S. citizenship. The order has been challenged in courts across several states, and the U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on the related lawsuits next month.
In the meantime, 35 Republican lawmakers, including Chip Roy and Tom Tiffany from the House Judiciary Committee, sent a letter on Monday to outgoing Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. They are asking the administration to clarify whether the Chinese Communist Party is misusing U.S. birthright citizenship and visa programs to strengthen its long-term influence in the United States. The letter was also sent to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum.
'American citizenship is a sacred trust, not a loophole to be exploited,' Roy stated in a press release. 'When foreign hostile entities like the Chinese Communist Party can take advantage of 'birth tourism' and visa waiver programs to increase their influence within our borders, we must restore the integrity of our immigration system and defend the sovereignty of the Republic.'
Tiffany remarked, "Communist China is exploiting 'birth tourism' to send women to the Northern Mariana Islands solely for the purpose of giving birth and securing U.S. citizenship for their children... It is time to close this loophole, put an end to this abuse, and safeguard our national security."
On March 3, Tiffany and Roy introduced the 'One Country, One Visa Policy Act,' which aims to prevent Chinese citizens from entering the United States without a valid visa and to prohibit their participation in any visa waiver travel programs, including those for Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.
Previously, Tiffany had written to the Secretary of Homeland Security, urging her to take action to revoke the visa waiver policy for the Northern Mariana Islands and to close the loophole regarding birthright citizenship. Following the President's signing of an executive order to abolish birthright citizenship on January 21 of last year, he, along with over 30 members of Congress, jointly proposed the '2025 Birthright Citizenship Act,' which seeks to limit the scope of birthright citizenship and address various loopholes in the existing policy.
Regarding the number of Chinese citizens who come to the United States each year through 'birth tourism,' the U.S. government does not track this information, and thus, there are no specific figures available; however, some researchers have suggested more concrete estimates.
Peter Schweizer, the director of the Government Accountability Institute, also attended the Senate hearing on Tuesday. He highlighted that the trend of Chinese birth tourism to the United States has surged over the past 15 years, stating, "This means that at least 750,000, and possibly up to 1.5 million Chinese citizens now hold U.S. citizenship because they were born on American soil."
Schweizer referenced data from official Chinese media. Reports indicate that in 2007, approximately 600 Chinese women travelled to the U.S. to give birth; this number rose to 5,000 by 2010 and surpassed 10,000 by 2012. According to the Maternal and Infant Management Association, a private industry organisation, the number reached 20,000 in 2013, with estimates suggesting it could hit 30,000 in 2014. Following that, it is projected that 50,000 to 60,000 individuals will continue to travel each year.
Schweizer further elaborated on the potential issues arising from these Chinese citizens who gain U.S. citizenship through "birth tourism." He remarked, "These individuals grow up in China, typically receiving their education in schools controlled by the Communist Party, and they often have a distorted understanding of American history, values, and culture. They lack any connection to life in America or demonstrated loyalty, yet they enjoy all the rights of U.S. citizenship: voting in elections, relocating freely to the U.S., and sponsoring their parents for permanent residency once they turn 21."
Shi Weize has recently published a book titled 'The Invisible Coup', which primarily explores how foreign governments, including the Chinese Communist Party, are leveraging immigration issues as a 'political strategy' to challenge the United States.
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