If Trump's promise to eliminate birthright citizenship is fulfilled, thousands of Mexican families would be affected by not being able to guarantee dual nationality for their babies. Many Mexican mothers see U.S. citizenship as an opportunity to provide a better future for their children, as it opens doors to greater job, educational, and personal opportunities. The reality is that birthright citizenship does not automatically guarantee residency or citizenship for parents, which creates confusion around the concept of "birth tourism." This policy change would have a direct impact on foreign women, including many Mexicans, who travel to the U.S. to give birth and ensure U.S. citizenship for their children. The Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution establishes the principle of jus soli, which grants citizenship to those born in the country, regardless of their parents' nationality. However, Trump believes this right has led to so-called "birth tourism," questioning its validity. The end of jus soli in the U.S. would impact many Mexican women and their families, creating uncertainty about the future of this policy. The elimination of this right poses challenges in both the immigration and economic realms, potentially affecting the relationship between Mexico and the U.S. in the long term. The process for parents to obtain permanent residency through a U.S. citizen child is complex and depends on several factors, such as the parents' immigration and criminal history. The possible elimination of jus soli could significantly reduce the number of Mexican women traveling to the U.S. to give birth. Trump's intention to eliminate birthright citizenship has generated uncertainty among Mexican women who travel to the U.S. for this purpose. Unlike the U.S., countries like Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, and several Latin American nations maintain jus soli. The elimination of this right would not only affect families but also the medical industry in border states like Texas and California. Hospitals at the border handled more than 15,000 births from non-resident women in 2022, which meant significant income for these institutions. In light of this possible modification in U.S. laws, Maria Mendoza, an immigration lawyer, clarifies that having a U.S. citizen child does not grant parents the automatic right to permanent residency. The Center for Immigration Studies estimates that around 36,000 cases of "birth tourism" are recorded annually.
