MANILA, Philippines—Pregnant Chinese are flocking to the United States (US) to give birth to give their babies US citizenship, a report from CNNMoney said.
The report said pregnant Chinese mothers were attracted to rules that grant US citizenship to babies born in the US.
The report cited that in 2012, about 10,000 Chinese women gave birth in the US, more than double the 4,200 in 2008.
The report said 27-year old Felicia He was among the thousands of pregnant Chinese who went to the US to give birth.
She said a US passport for her baby meant “access to better education opportunities.”
A law professor at the University of California in Berkeley further explained why Chinese mothers wanted to give birth in the US.
“If things become economically or politically uncertain in one’s country of origin, the children have a place to come to. The children can then sponsor their parents when they turn 21,” Leti Volpp was quoted as saying in the report.
A report from Hurun Report was cited in the article saying that almost two-thirds of Chinese, especially among the wealthy, have a desire to leave China.
A family identified as “Miao” told CNNMoney that most Chinese mothers desire to leave China to escape from its one-child policy.
The Miao family said that although the rules have been relaxed slightly, not every couple is eligible to have multiple children.
The family, like He, plans to send members to study in the US.
Both families plan to emigrate in the US, which they said had a lower cost of living.
“Housing is more affordable, especially in comparison to Beijing, where prices continue to climb,” the report said.
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