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Comment by throwawayish | Hacker News Reader

No, this is often about having a working exit strategy. Similar things happen in many countries right now, usually by getting a/the pregnant wife into the country, getting citizenship for the child and thus at least residency rights for both parents. Also moving assets continouosly out of China to safer countries. Obviously this is all very expensive, since they need to do it without the state noticing, ie. lots of bribing.

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Anchor babies don't let parents stay in the US. The government will happily deport the foreign parents and the US child to stay with the parents. The anchor baby can eventually bring their parents over, but its a 21 year wait.

https://www.uscis.gov/family/family-us-citizens/parents/brin...

You seem to be unaware of DAPA.

And even in cases without DAPA eligibility, a USA-born child would not be "deported" in your scenario.

I was unaware of it, but reading through the wikipedia summary, its a recently(less than 10 years) passed law, that has been tied up in the courts for most of its possible existence? I agree that if it passes through the judiciary intact, then it changes things. Currently however, what people would call anchor babies do not provide the benefit most people would think exists

That seems pretty implausible that this is happening in many countries. Only 30 countries on earth have birthright citizenship the way you describe. Of those 30 only the US and Canada are developed nations. The rest are countries like: Mexico, Fiji, and Guatemala.

In most European countries it's much easier to get citizenship if a) stayed a while and b) gave birth to a child. Similarly it's easier for the other parent to get citizenship or permanent residence under these conditions. But yeah, I didn't describe it very accurately. From what people told me the US is/was one of the prime targets, will be interesting to see if that changes with Trump. Perhaps more come to Europe instead.

Hey, Australia is developed nation as well! Maybe not as much as Canada, but more than Mexico or the USA.

Australia does not have birthright citizenship. I looked it up when we were living in Sydney, and my wife was pregnant.

Interesting, you now have to live in Australia until you're 10. That didn't used to be the case. Thanks.

There's even a mandarin romcom around that plot. 'Finding Mr Right' I think.

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