Birthright citizenship, the practice of granting automatic citizenship to children born on American soil, has become a contentious political issue in the United States. The debate surged in October 2020 when then President Donald Trump claimed he has the power to end the practice through executive order. However, despite such claims, ending birthright citizenship would require amending the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, a complex and politically charged process. This article examines the history, legal foundations, and the challenges facing any attempt to modify the centuries-old legal tradition of birthright citizenship in the United States.
Exploring the Possibility of Ending Birthright Citizenship in the United States
