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'''Birthright Citizenship''' is the practice of granting U.S. citizenship to children born in the [[United States]], including those born to [[illegal aliens]]. The practice is based on a misunderstanding of the first sentence of the [[Fourteenth Amendment]] (1868), 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."

'''Birthright Citizenship''' is the practice of granting U.S. citizenship to children born in the [[United States]], including those born to [[illegal aliens]]. The practice is based on a misunderstanding of the first sentence of the [[Fourteenth Amendment]] (1868), 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."

How to deal with the children of illegal immigrants was not an issue in the era when the Fourteenth Amendment was enacted. The purpose of the amendment was to assure that former slaves were granted full civil rights, including the right to vote. Given this context, the phrase "subject to the jurisdiction thereof" can reasonably be interpreted to mean that the child cannot be considered a citizen of a foreign power and is thus under exclusive American jurisdiction.<ref>https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/donald-trump-end-birthright-citizenship-by-executive-order/</ref>

Children of [[illegal alien]]s and other foreigners here on merely a temporary basis are not "subject to the jurisdiction" of the [[United States]] permanently, just as children born on military bases and in foreign countries to [[American]] citizens are not permanently subject to foreign jurisdictions. The purpose of the amendment was to ensure that former slaves were granted full civil rights, including the right to vote. Given this context, the phrase "subject to the jurisdiction thereof" can reasonably be interpreted to mean that the child born here to foreign citizens is a citizen of the country of their parents, not the [[United States]].<ref>https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/donald-trump-end-birthright-citizenship-by-executive-order/</ref>

Children born to foreign diplomats while in the United States do not thereby become [[American]] citizens. American Indians were not granted citizenship by the Fourteenth Amendment, but rather by the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924.

Children born to foreign diplomats while in the United States do not thereby become [[American]] citizens. American Indians were not granted citizenship by the Fourteenth Amendment, but rather by the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924.

In 1898, the U.S. Supreme Court cited the Fourteenth Amendment in the citizenship case of Wong Kim Ark, an American-born ethnic Chinese whose immigrant parents were never naturalized. The vote was 6 to 2.<ref>The holding is, "A child born in the United States, of parents of Chinese descent, who, at the time of his birth, are subjects of the Emperor of China but have a permanent domicile and residence in the United States and are there carrying on business and are not employed in any diplomatic or official capacity under the Emperor of China, becomes at the time of his birth a citizen of the United States, by virtue of the Citizenship Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment."</ref>

In 1898, the U.S. Supreme Court cited the Fourteenth Amendment in the citizenship case of Wong Kim Ark, an American-born ethnic Chinese whose immigrant parents were permanent legal residents of the [[United States]], although not naturalized as citizens. The vote was 6 to 2.<ref>The holding is, "A child born in the United States, of parents of Chinese descent, who, at the time of his birth, are subjects of the Emperor of China but have a permanent domicile and residence in the United States and are there carrying on business and are not employed in any diplomatic or official capacity under the Emperor of China, becomes at the time of his birth a citizen of the United States, by virtue of the Citizenship Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment."</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> A 2017 [[Congressional Budget Office]] report estimated that 4.5 million '''anchor babies''' lived in the U.S.<ref>Binder, John (December 26, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/26/cbo-at-least-4-5m-anchor-babies-in-u-s/ CBO: At Least 4.5M Anchor Babies in U.S.] ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved December 26, 2017.</ref> – even greater than the number of children born in the U.S. every year.<ref>Binder, John (December 28, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/28/anchor-baby-population-in-u-s-exceeds-one-year-of-american-births/ Anchor Baby Population in U.S. Exceeds One Year of American Births]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved December 28, 2017.</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> A 2017 [[Congressional Budget Office]] report estimated that 4.5 million '''anchor babies''' lived in the U.S.<ref>Binder, John (December 26, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/26/cbo-at-least-4-5m-anchor-babies-in-u-s/ CBO: At Least 4.5M Anchor Babies in U.S.] ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved December 26, 2017.</ref> – even greater than the number of children born in the U.S. every year.<ref>Binder, John (December 28, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/28/anchor-baby-population-in-u-s-exceeds-one-year-of-american-births/ Anchor Baby Population in U.S. Exceeds One Year of American Births]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved December 28, 2017.</ref>