No citizenship for in vitro babies WASHINGTON, March 20 (UPI) -- A Chicago woman's twins, conceived in vitro and born abroad, were denied citizenship because the United States says it does not recognize them as her children. Ellie Lavi gave birth to twin girls in Tel Aviv. When she went to the U.S. Embassy to register their citizenship, she was told they would only be eligible if she could prove the egg or sperm used in her in vitro fertilization came from an American citizen. Lawyer Melissa Brisman, who specializes in fertility issues, says although the regulation is there to curb abuse, it is harmful to those who simply want to pass citizenship onto their children. "The problem is that the law hasn't kept up with the advances in reproductive technology," Brisman told USA Today. The U.S. State Department said it is studying whether or not it can interpret the Immigration and Nationality Act in such a way to allow citizens "to transmit American citizenship to their children born abroad through artificial reproductive technology in a broader range of circumstances." Lavi, who is a U.S. citizen, said embassy officials publicly asked her if the twins were hers. "I was humiliated and horrified," she said. We're talking about the children I gave birth to. Of course they're mine.