Legal Immigrant Business Owner Says Birth Tourism Is a ‘Slap in the Face’ to Lawful Immigrants

Trinidad-born Virginia businessman Kris Ramsingh, who became a U.S. citizen after completing a lengthy legal immigration process, says coming to the United States to obtain birthright citizenship or entering the country illegally to access public benefits is "a slap in the face" to those who immigrate legally.

A supporter of President Donald Trump's immigration policies, Ramsingh said he and his wife arrived in the United States in 2006 with just $300 and a few suitcases. After nearly nine years of following the legal immigration process, he became a U.S. citizen in 2015.

Speaking to Fox News Digital, Ramsingh said:

"When you see people come here just to have a baby for citizenship, or cross the border illegally to receive free healthcare and free education, it's really a slap in the face to those who have worked hard to come to this country the legal way."

He explained that, before receiving citizenship, he had to provide proof of vaccinations, personal documentation, undergo a criminal background check, and demonstrate financial stability through bank records to show he would not become dependent on government assistance.

"America doesn't owe us anything," Ramsingh said. "The opportunity to come here is a privilege, not a right."

The week of Independence Day also marks the anniversary of his and his wife's arrival in the United States. He has lived in Roanoke, Virginia, for the past 20 years, where he founded Dominion Custom Upholstery and later launched another business specializing in boat interiors and repairs.

Ramsingh also established Dominion Project International, a missionary organization through which he travels to India, Africa, and the Caribbean to provide clean drinking water, medical supplies, and Christian outreach.

"The American Dream means you can work hard, take a chance, and if you fail, you have the opportunity to get back up and try again," he said.

He added that the American flag represents peace, hope, and freedom.

Recalling the 1990 attempted coup in Trinidad, Ramsingh said the arrival of American forces gave people a sense of safety. That experience, he said, shaped his lifelong appreciation for the United States.

He said that whenever he returns to the U.S. after missionary trips abroad, he feels that he has come home. At the same time, he expressed disappointment with people who come to America only to criticize the country.

Responding to claims that Trump is anti-immigrant, Ramsingh rejected the characterization.

"Trump is not against immigration. He simply wants people to come here legally. Republicans are not anti-immigrant; they are against illegal immigration."

He also argued that border enforcement weakened during the Biden administration, saying, "We're not against immigration—we're against illegal entry."

While acknowledging that some deportation cases involve difficult personal circumstances, Ramsingh said those situations are the result of years of failing to enforce U.S. immigration laws.

Concluding the interview, he said:

"I come from a developing country, so I understand why people want to come to America. But Trump is not against immigration—he just wants it done the right way. Living in the United States is a privilege, not an inherent right."