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'''Birthright Citizenship''' is the argument — never approved by the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] — that babies physically born in the [[United States]] obtain automatic [[citizenship]] by virtue of their place of birth, even if born to [[illegal aliens]]. This theory is supposedly based on the first sentence of the [[Fourteenth Amendment]], which reads, "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside."  Under this theory, a child born to illegal immigrants automatically holds U.S. citizenship, and a child born of an illegal alien mother is eligible to sponsor legal immigration for other relatives when the child turns 21 years of age.

'''Birthright Citizenship''' is the argument — never affirmed by the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] — that babies physically born in the [[United States]] obtain automatic [[citizenship]] by virtue of their place of birth, even if born to [[illegal aliens]]. This theory is based on the first sentence of the [[Fourteenth Amendment]], which reads, "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside."  Under this theory, a child born to illegal immigrants automatically holds U.S. citizenship, and a child born of an illegal alien mother is eligible to sponsor legal immigration for other relatives when the child turns 21 years of age.

An argument against '''birthright citizenship''' is the long tradition that children born to foreign diplomats while in the United States do not thereby become [[American]] citizens.  For many years [[American Indians]] — including those born in the United States — were not considered to be citizens either.

An argument against '''birthright citizenship''' is the long tradition that children born to foreign diplomats while in the United States do not thereby become [[American]] citizens.  For many years [[American Indians]] — including those born in the United States — were not considered to be citizens either.