06 Jan Toys “R” Us Citizenship Rules
A baby that would otherwise have otherwise won a $25,000 savings bond as the first baby born in the new year was disqualified because her mother is an undocumented immigrant (story here). What makes this episode remarkable is that I can’t think of any other context in which a child born in the US (a full citizen, of course, as a result) would be discriminated against because of her parent’s immigration status. Plenty of bad publicity for Toys “R” Us, maybe enough to change the rule?
Update: Toys “R” Us has in fact now backed down, awarding the contest prize to all three babies born at midnight. Still an interesting story, perhaps by way of demonstrating just how well-entrenched the birthright citizenship rule is. It also highlights, however, the fact that many contests restrict eligibility to legal residents.
Delighted to see that the decision has now been reversed, or at least fudged, with prizes for all.
Did you read the rules of the contest?
the original decision was very unfair – the baby didn’t choose where she was born, or the residency status of her parents, after all.
tlb, what about the rules? do we have them? that would be interesting. but even if they excluded kids of immigrants, that would seem stupid and cruel, even if the bond is given gratuitously. probably enforceable, but bad pr anyway.
the update didn’t make the front page.