By Anna Schecter
Rock Center
China’s growing class of the newly rich has found a way to skirt Beijing’s hated one-child policy: an extended vacation to the United States for the birth of a second child.
The United States has become a favorite birth destination for affluent Chinese women who want to have more children but avoid fines and scrutiny by their government.
The American born babies are automatically granted citizenship by U.S. law and the parents plan to maintain that status for their children. Once back in China, they never register their babies as Chinese citizens, enabling them to continue to stay off the radar of government officials.
“[Avoiding the fines] is part of the reason I came here,” said Lily from Beijing, who was pregnant with her fourth daughter when she spoke to NBC News in September. She agreed to an interview on the condition that her last name not be used. Like most of the women interviewed, she flew to the United States several months before giving birth and left one month after.
Doctor Helen Hsieh, an obstetrician in Queens, New York, has taken care of at least a dozen Chinese mothers who came to the United States to give birth and avoid the one-child policy.
“They actually will be fined or sent to jail if they were caught to have a second child…even taken to have a forced abortion, so they will have to come to other countries, like America, to have that child,” said Hsieh.
The controversial one-child policy, implemented in the late 1970s, aims to decrease the growth pace of China’s enormous population by limiting urban couples to one child. There are exceptions, but parents who are not exempt are officially penalized with fines for noncompliance.
Reports of professional demotions and terminations, jail time and even forced abortions have drawn outrage from human rights activists for years.
“They happen because of the national level quota set and for the provincial and local officials who are tasked with implementing this policy, they want to meet their quotas, whatever it takes,” said Sharon Hom, Executive Director of the New York based non-profit organization, Human Rights in China.
Forced abortions are now illegal under Chinese law, but fines of up to one year’s wages are standard and enforcement varies widely around the country, according Hom.
For the wealthy like Lily who can afford the cost of giving birth in a U.S. hospital without insurance --at least $10,000-- having an American baby has become a status symbol.
During a three-month investigation, NBC News gained access to four “birth tourism” centers catering to these women.
Staying in the room next to Lily at one of the centers was Emmy from Shanghai, pregnant with her second daughter. Emmy also asked that her last name not be used.
“Since in China you can only have one child, usually the child is very spoiled, but here in America, the system is about being equal and independent. So it's better for the child,” she said, adding that she hopes her daughter will come back to the United States as soon as middle school.
When asked if she would get into trouble upon her return to China, she shrugged off the question, seeming unafraid of what Chinese authorities might do.
“They will be surprised…they’ll think it’s a good thing [that my child was born in America],” she said, referring to friends and neighbors.
Even if Emmy does not face penalties, life might be more complicated when she returns with her daughter. China does not recognize dual citizenship, so her child cannot become a Chinese citizen without having her American citizenship revoked, and will not be eligible for social services or public school.
“That’s a few years away and the policies might change,” Emmy said.
If she and her husband continue to do well economically, she will be able to afford private schools and health care, enjoyed by China’s economic elite.
NBC News’ Rima Abdelkader contributed to this report.
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Will i be able to watch Rockcenter live online tonite, im stuck at work with my computer only
ROCK CENTER ROCKS!!!! This is what I call Informative television @ its BEST!!!! Just got out of chemistry class and can't stay awake...But I can't help myself!!! I AM A FAN!!!!!
lame stream hack
lame stream
Thank you for this program. We've been missing a show like this for a long time. Unbiased journalism is almost unheard of this day in age.
Just about everything sold in the us is made in China and now they are using our laws to spend money in our country and conservatives are getting mad. If you don't like it then stop making it easy for US companies to send our companies there. No jobs in the US because they sit on the money and make up lame excuses about not having the demand to warrant hiring (want they really mean is that they are enjoying not spending money here). There will be no us companies hiring anytime soon because everything that was made here is now made in China.
What better way to influence future elections is by flooding the future voting masses with children of CHINESE parents whose children are LEGAL US citizens.
For one, I say enough taking advantage of America. I don't care what reasons they want to use, it is WRONG!
I agree with Bob, taking advantage of the American system, having children here!! Give me (us) a break. Don't we have enough !! I say someone needs to put a stop to this. Other countries don't allow for this. Have your kid in your own country for crying aloud. What's to say that 20 years later they will come back and destroy our country one way or the other. Upset!!
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What better way to influence future elections is by flooding the future voting masses with children of CHINESE parents whose children are LEGAL US citizens.
For one, I say enough taking advantage of America. I don't care what reasons they want to use, it is WRONG!
I believe that this is a red herring. Republicans are really after undocumented Hispanic women who come and give birth,at taxpayer expense, and then insure that their U.S. born babies stay for free education.
Over 60 years ago, my parents and their friends were railing against black women who were coming from the segregated south to give birth for FREE in New York City Municipal Hospitals.
It was racism then and it's racism now.
You are absolutely correct - I don't believe that Williams has thought this thru' before broadcasting this type of venom.
Good job, Brian. I'm staying tuned.
Wow....Can you say Huge National Security Issue! The nurses are probably holding the next Aldrich Ames! BTW I hope you continue to do good in depth journalism. 60 Minutes etc." have become puff peddlers!" Would love to see John Stewart as a regular.
Story never explains the details about when the children come back to the US. Are they accompanied by family members? The whole family? And that's another benefit to the US economy as they'll get free school, but they'll pay for housing, taxes, food etc for the kid and whomever accompanies them till they turn 21. And when hey turn 21 and the family immigrates to the US, they're just immigrants, paying US taxes like everyone else. Why wasn't this fleshed out in the story?
What a show! Brian Williams you are amazing! Thank you!
Great show, thank you for presenting interesting the topics. The segment on wealthy Chinese raises may points, these children can become President of the USA in 35 years!
Our daughter was born while we were living abroad, and although I am a fifth generation American whose family members fought in the Civil War and my husband a second generation American, she will never be able to run for President of the United States while these lucky newborns will have the advantage to rule our country in the next generation. And to think there are those narrow minded folks who question Obama's birth right! Just wait and see what the future holds.......
I thought that a child born outside the US can become president as long as both parents are US citizens at the time of the baby's birth. A fairly simple way of putting a stop to this practice of tourist birthism is for the State Department to refuse visas to any pregnant female who is not a US citizen or is not married to a US citizen.
Great program! Interesting issues with the Wealthy Chinese babies, they now qualify to become President of the USA in 35 years!!!!!
the best i've seen in a long time. how refreshing. thanks so much for reality. brian williams you are the best.
After watching this episode in which women from China are giving birth to children here in America in order for their children to become "Naturally Born Americans". The problem that I see is more long term then just education and employment. The question is: Even if they are "Naturally Born" here, but then raised in a foreign country, doesn't this still make them eligible to run for and become President of the United States once they reach age 35? Without trying to sound like an alarmist or paranoid. Could this be some long range goal to place outside influence within the highest ranks of our political structure?
Love the show, I have placed the DVR on series record. And Harry Smith welcome to a network worthy of your talent.
This show is amazing! Journalism at it's finest, and having Jon Stewart as your first guest appearance. Fantastic! I have to comment about the Chinese mothers who are coming to the U.S. to have their babies. Who are they hurting? They are spending money in our stores and paying cash for all of their medical expenses. Re-write the 14th amendment. That's just wrong.
What is wrong is people speaking about the 14th admentment who have not read it. Obviously you have never read the 14th amendment, this is clearly a violation. No need to rewrite, simply enforce it.
Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
These children are nor subject to the jurisdiction of the USA, therefore should not be citizens. Read the intent in the authors of the 14th amendment. The must not have any tie to another jurisdiction (country). It was specific for the children of slaves. They forbid the native Americans citizenship under this amendment because they were subject to there Indian nation
I must say , why should they the women be allowed visas so as just to have their child, children here? From the program I saw husbands as well, I guess it's pretty easy to get an american visa to do what you want to in this country. So money talks, wealthy,women it said, must be nice. While others come to this country or have for years because they want a better life for their child, etc and work hard to do so" they spend their hard earned money to be here, while the wealthy get it so easy and live in nice upper scale homes with all the perks, no questions asked. Something is wrong with this picture.
Our daughter was born while we were living abroad but despite the fact that I am a fifth generation American whose forebears fought in the Civil War and my husband a second generation American, she can never run for President of the United States. On the other hand, these lucky newborn Chinese children could one day be Commander in Chief. I am sure the proof of citizenship paperwork I had to provide to the U.S. Embassy in order to register our daughter as a citizen was much more comprehensive. I had to supply our birth certificates, marriage certificate, college dilplomas, old passports, etc. and a timeline of our travels in and out of the U.S. since we were 18. Did the fathers of these children even show up?
This is an appallingly racist report. Will NBC complain if these are European babies ? These mothers spent their own funds and complied with all the current laws. The only thing that's wrong is their skin color. It's pathetic !
This had nothing to do with skin color at all, Paul. This had solely to do with mothers and fathers coming from a communist state that dictated their reproduction capacities and opportunities. European babies (and their moms & dads) have little interest in coming over here, unless you are talking about the eastern euros who would love to qualify for a visa, but rarely can. Otherwise, most Euros are pretty well taken care of if you do a little research. Also, European babies are pretty rainbow colored themselves.
Absolutely a great show! Brian Williams, you are amazing. Thank you for all of your years of great reporting.
Loved the show! I admire Brian and everything he does. This story was an eye opener for me, I am aware of all the babies born here for the whole purpose of citizenship...but this type of operation is outrageous. I could not believe my eyes. These are the little things that our own constitution allows, and in the long run hurts our country. This needs to stop, and for sure this needs to make it all the way to Congress.
Thank you for a good quality program.
actually, this has been happening for a long long time. it just happens to be china now. it used to be Taiwan, or South Korea before that it was japan. the fact is, many of us have american passports pay american taxes and return back to asia after we get our education.
i am 30 now and my parents as well as my extended family and other friends i know all are american my parents came here for my passport but most of my friends ended up at ivy leagues some are teachers, some are doctors, some are in business. i think it just happens to be the Chinese today and that is why there is such a uproar.
in asia, i see this type of operation quite often. it is tradition for nurses to care for the newborns for the first few months while the mother recovers from child birth. there are "hotel-hospitals' that are set up for this reason. what i disagree with is the use of houses in residential areas. this should be setup in a nice resort setting or possibly a medical facility similar to a retirement home where parents would have their own units and medical facilities and staff on hand.
finally, this isnt new just that it is done as a business now.
AC
Please read the 14th amendment and it's intent. The sole purpose was to give citizenship to the children of slaves. I was to prevent further wrong from being done to those folks who were brought here against there will. I actually limited the citizenship to them, in fat is specifically forbids citizenship to native Americans, who were not yet granted citizenship. It was never meant for the protect of illegal aliens or birth tourist. If you think we are being mean attempt to gain citizenship and benefits in Mexico or China as an American.
Please read the 14th amendment and it's intent. The sole purpose was to give citizenship to the children of slaves. I was to prevent further wrong from being done to those folks who were brought here against there will. I actually limited the citizenship to them, in fat is specifically forbids citizenship to native Americans, who were not yet granted citizenship. It was never meant for the protect of illegal aliens or birth tourist. If you think we are being mean attempt to gain citizenship and benefits in Mexico or China as an American.