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Children of ‘passport bros’ and mail-order brides reveal disturbing tactics ‘sex-pat’ fathers use to lure submissive foreign women to America… and why they’ll never forgive their mothers
Adult children of American men and foreign partners describe childhoods shaped by money, immigration status and unequal relationships, as the “passport bro” trend brings renewed attention to men seeking partners abroad. Their accounts warn that promises of financial security or a route to the US can leave women and children dependent on men who hold power over their immigration status.
Agustina, 36, says she experienced neglect, custody disputes and abuse after her parents met in Panama, and is now estranged from both. Katya, whose memoir *Ungrateful Immigrant Daughter* was published on 29 September, says her mother moved from Moscow to Mexico in 1997 and later pursued US sponsors through marriages; she recounts abuse and repeated failures to secure immigration papers. The article also notes that US servicemen have married women they met overseas for decades, including hundreds of thousands of post-war “war brides”.
In short
- Adult children describe how unequal relationships affected their childhoods.
- Immigration sponsorship and money feature in their accounts.
- One woman recounts neglect, custody disputes and abuse.
Explained simply
For decades, some American men have met and married women while living or serving abroad. The term “passport bro” is now used for men who travel seeking relationships, while “mail-order bride” is a label for women introduced to foreign partners through agencies or other arranged channels. The experiences described in the report include relationships formed in Panama, Russia and Mexico.
The adult children interviewed describe families in which money and the prospect of moving to the United States shaped relationships. A partner whose visa or residency depends on a spouse may have limited independence, particularly during conflict or a custody dispute. Their accounts include neglect, abuse and unsuccessful attempts to obtain immigration papers.
These are individual accounts, alongside a longer history of American servicemen marrying women they met overseas, including post-war “war brides”. The subject matters because it raises questions about how immigration status and financial dependence can affect the choices available to partners and children.