Over its 60 years of existence, Israel also has had a jus sanguinis system, in which Jews the world over and the descendants of Israeli Arabs can claim citizenship but the children of foreign workers born on Israeli soil cannot. Like Germany, Israel sought to meet labor needs by importing temporary workers — largely from Asia and Eastern Europe — who did not end up being so temporary. The result: The Israeli government announced in August plans to deport 400 Israeli-born children of non-Jewish immigrants. These are children who speak Hebrew, have always expected to perform the obligatory military service that Israel requires of its citizens and know Israel as their only home.

The controversy is dividing Israel. The national organization of Holocaust survivors has called for a halt to the deportations, expressing its sense of shame that “a Jewish government could operate without a conscience and in such an inhumane way.” Israelis have taken to the streets to demand that their system move just a step toward the U.S. system and at least grant these children legal residency status.

Some say birthright citizenship motivates immigration, and thus a country without it will attract fewer immigrants. Well, not in Japan.