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'''Birthright Citizenship''' is the fallacy — never affirmed by the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] — that babies physically born in the [[United States]] should 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.

'''Birthright Citizenship''' is the fallacious legal fiction — never affirmed by the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] — that babies physically born in the [[United States]] should 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.  The U.S. is quite exceptional in the world for granting birthright citizenship sharing the policy principally with Western Hemisphere nations and Pakistan.

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 — maintaining primary allegiance to their tribal nations were not granted citizenship.

Some 380,000 children are born in the United States each year to illegal-alien mothers, according to U.S. Census data.<ref>[http://www.numbersusa.com/interests/birthrightcitizenship.htm Anchor Babies] NumbersUSA.com</ref>

Some 380,000 children are born in the United States each year to illegal-alien mothers, according to U.S. Census data.<ref>[http://www.numbersusa.com/interests/birthrightcitizenship.htm Anchor Babies] NumbersUSA.com</ref>