Vivianne Petit Frere, a Haitian migrant, has found a new home in Tijuana, Mexico, where her granddaughter was born, automatically making her a Mexican citizen. This is possible because, like the United States, Mexico extends citizenship to children born within its borders.

Birthright Citizenship

President Donald Trump has claimed that the US is the only country to offer birthright citizenship, but this is not accurate. About three dozen countries, mostly in the Americas, guarantee automatic citizenship to children born on their territory, including Canada, Honduras, Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, and Mexico.

Petit Frere’s story is an example of the benefits of birthright citizenship. Her granddaughter, Alexca, was born in Mexico, and as a Mexican citizen, she will have more opportunities, including easier travel. Petit Frere is also pursuing a degree in social work and has started the paperwork to become a Mexican citizen, which would make it easier to expand her business.

The US Supreme Court is expected to weigh in on the constitutionality of Trump’s birthright citizenship order, which was signed in 2025. The order aims to deny birthright citizenship to children whose parents are living in the country illegally or have temporary legal status.

A Haitian Community in Tijuana

Tijuana has a significant Haitian community, with tens of thousands of Haitians living in the city. In 2021, at least 10 percent of arriving Haitian women were pregnant, according to the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration. Petit Frere has become a community organizer with the Haitian Bridge Alliance, advocating for the Haitian migrant community.

Her restaurant, Lakou Lakay, has become a symbol of the community’s resilience and determination. The name, which means “home” in Haitian creole, reflects Petit Frere’s commitment to creating a sense of belonging for her family and community in their adopted homeland.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.