Spanish
Ciudad Juárez (México).- Pregnant women on the border have begun to rethink their plans to give birth on U.S. territory after the warning from the Consulate General of the United States in Ciudad Juárez, on the border, of sanctions for visa applicants seeking so-called "birth tourism", according to experts consulted by EFE this Friday.
The announcement has generated diverse reactions among women who historically crossed to El Paso (Texas) from Mexico to give birth. Some, like those who attend consultations at the medical unit “Todos Somos Mexicanos”, have already begun to modify their decisions.
“We have seen a change. There is more prenatal care here at the institution and the patients who already had everything ready to cross to have their baby attended to, have also told us that no, that on this occasion they want or change their whole plan to have their children here in Ciudad Juárez,” stated Dr. Karen Garza, head of prenatal care in that unit.
Through its social media, the consulate publicly emphasized at the beginning of the month its position of denying visas to those seeking to enter the U.S. with the primary purpose of giving birth, whereby their children would obtain citizenship by birth.
"U.S. consular officers are detaining foreign visitors who abuse the U.S. immigration system through 'birth tourism.' If a visa applicant is trying to use a tourist visa for the primary purpose of giving birth in the United States to give the child citizenship, their visa will be denied," he indicated.
Fewer Female Migrants
Dr. Garza added that, since the end of last year, the flow of pregnant migrant women seeking medical attention has decreased by around 60%. This, she said, may be related both to the decrease in migratory transit and to the new restrictions imposed by the US government.
The stance of the U.S. authorities has been described by some sectors as a measure that affects fundamental rights and alters the historical dynamism of the border.
“The United States government, through the consulate, announced that they were going to prevent people from Mexico or other countries from specifically crossing to have their babies in the United States. This, which was a common practice on the border, is now seen as something to avoid. We consider it as a violation of the right to life,” said a local activist, who preferred to remain anonymous.
The measures can also have a negative impact, she warned, on migrant women who did not necessarily plan to give birth in the United States, but who arrive pregnant at the border and require urgent medical attention.
“In a difficult situation because sometimes, I imagine many are detained there in detention centers while pregnant. Yes, I believe that it is something, it is very difficult for a law, it is very difficult for a person who has power, you see, political power, to be stronger than life,” commented Father Javier Calvillo, who was director of the Casa del Migrante of the city for many years.
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Meanwhile, clinics and hospitals in Ciudad Juárez are preparing to attend a greater number of births. “Yes, yes, yes, in fact they themselves state that they had planned to give birth in the United States and now they are doing it here in Mexico because of this change that occurred,” confirmed Dr. Garza.
The situation reflects a new stage in the relationship between Ciudad Juárez and El Paso, cities that for decades have shared not only economic and cultural ties, within the framework of the restriction in immigration policies by the new U.S. president, Donald Trump.
