I'm not limiting this to the US so lets keep the laws and stuff out of it. Just your personal opinion.

I'm not sure how normal it is everywhere but i do know that in places, if you're born in the country, you're a citizen. What are your views on that? Should it be a different criteria? I know of friends whos parents were just visiting the states on a visit visa and their child was delivered there. Parents are still pakistani while the son is a citizen. Another friend in Hongkong.

I dont really have a proper view on it. Not that i think its really a big deal but i was never really a huge supporter of it as such .... but meh.

How can anybody have an opinion on citizenship rights without talking about the law?

That's basically boiling down the discussion to: "Should pregnant women travel?"

Hahahaha Addrock.

I still think you can discuss it ... for instance ...

I think it is ridiculious ... if the parents don't have a visa, then the born child shouldn't either. I think they should designate an island somewhere to ship all kids born without a home. Call it Neverland, let them roam around. Should be very darwinish.

Just don't like Michael Jackson around. :wink:

I personally also think the way which citizenship is determined isn't wise. Personally, I think that the child should be of the same citizenship as the parents.

I mean i'd rather have people voicing their comments without saying, the consitution says it or its someone's legal rights. Also, this is something that transcends outside of the states as well. States' laws dont exist in other country ... the laws are made for a reason ... if you wish to defend it, use the reasoning, not use the law .. nothing more really ...

RogueCommander, the child gets to keep the citizenship of the parent. If my friend is born in america, he still is a pakistani citizen

ofcourse, some countries ask you not to keep dual citizenship and choose one. I believe India is one example of this though i'm not sure.

Oh I see. Gotcha.

I believe citizen rights (I just looked it up) apply a level of dual-citizenship if one of the parents is a citizen of the United States.

I do think at least one parent has to be a citizen of "x" country in order for the rules to apply.

really!?!? could you direct me to the site?? i know friends whos parents aren't citizens of the country at all.

To me having dual citizenship is like being married to two different women. It shouldn't be allowed. Citizenship is a major commitment, they need to pick a team and play.

In general I'm for much tighter immigration, so you can put me down as against the idea of someone getting automatic citizenship just for being born here.

The big problem most people have with this law of course is illegal immigration and the automatic naturalization of their children as US citizens. I sort of understand the complaint but I feel you should punish the parents, not the children. I believe that taking that away from them goes against the spirit of America (or what the spirit of America used to be) as a refuge for those seeking opportunity and freedom.

what about the spirit of other countries.

India started offering somewhat of a Dual Citizenship in December 2004 called Overseas Citizenship. It has been put on hold as of 1/31/2005 to resolve some issues.

Regarding illegal immigration: the biggest culprits are the businesses that hire them for lower labor costs. There will not be any illegal immigration if the illegal immigrants could not get a job and make a living here.

It's whatever they want it to be. I only know about the US, so that's all I can really speak about. What countries have a more open spirit, and which ones are inherently more closed?

so your own personal opinion on it?? lets say its a completely new country and you have a say in if people born in a place should automatically be citizens there. what would you say and why? just asking really .. i'm very interested in people's opinions.

I'm for a relatively open immigration policy, so I'd probably implement such a law. On the other hand, I can understand the opposition to it in cases in which a family on vacation has a child born on foreign soil. What is the practical benefit of granting that child citizenship of the host country if there is no intention of the child living there? I don't know.

well

without paying any taxes whatsoever, the child is eligible for any grants or loans when he reaches a university. also, without actually any sense of patriotism, the child can enter and exit the country without ever being questioned ... stuff like that ... you basically get certain types of previledges without ever really paying the country back with anything at all (i dont mean this in monetary terms though).

i'm sort of for and against it .... haven't made up my mind on the issue.

The child isn't being punished. They just aren't being handed a priviledge on a silver platter.

I'd hardly call the living conditions that these children are born into a fucking "silver platter." Maybe you should try it sometime and see how you like it.

And being sent back to their parents's home country from the only life they've known, just because of what their parents did, is indeed punishing the child for little more than being born.

only life they know?? whos sending them back now? i think archie gates is talking about when people are just born. I do not think hes refering to anyone who has lived here for 15 years due to such a law.

Two things I'll address:

I think that getting a citizenship just because you were born in a country is one of the most stupid laws I have encountered (I take all the really ridiculous ones like those that forbid having sex with Satan without a condom on out of it). Consider when this law was passed. It was during a time when the USA was trying hard to attract people to come there and populate the western regions. It's simply outdated and couldn't be more welcome for the illegal immigrants (who I strongly oppose). I guess I'm pretty much on Archie's side on this one.

A dual citizenship. Well, I think it is wrong if you think about it, yes. However, I am one of those who'll be able to benefit from it, so I shouldn't complain.

lets not limit the argument to the US. What other countries are tehre that offer this?

You once again have a temper problem when someone questions your set views. The issue is people coming into this country and popping out a child and voila the child gets instant citizenship, it's a moronic law. What life they've known? The few days inside a nursery? Kick the parents out with them, I'm not saying send the kids back alone.

Also, beeble, you shouldn't make assumptions about people's backgrounds when on forums like this. You have no idea whether I've lived in a third world country of the poverty I've seen or not.

also, the law does not apply to kids from third world countries. It applies to someone from norway, germany or any other place ...

i'm from a third world country too. Damn fun life i lived : )

I wasn't born in canada, yet i see myself as a dual citizen, more canadian though.