The Supreme Court Weighs in on Birthright Citizenship
The Supreme Court is considering a case that could change who becomes a citizen of the United States. This case revolves around the meaning of the 14th Amendment, which says that anyone born in the U.S. is a citizen.
Some people believe that this rule, as it’s currently understood, has led to problems. They argue that it wasn’t meant to give citizenship to everyone born here, especially those whose parents are not here legally. They say the original idea was to make sure that people who were formerly slaves and their children were citizens.
Those who want to change the current rule believe that being born in the U.S. is not enough. They think that to be a citizen, a person’s parents should be citizens or legal residents. They point to the part of the 14th Amendment that says a person must be “subject to the jurisdiction” of the U.S. to be a citizen. They believe this means a person must have full loyalty to the U.S.
Others disagree. They say that the 14th Amendment clearly states that anyone born in the U.S. is a citizen, no matter what their parents’ status is. They argue that changing this would go against the Constitution and American values.
The Supreme Court’s decision will have a big impact on many people. If the court agrees to change the current rule, it could mean that many children born in the U.S. each year would not automatically become citizens. This could affect their future and the future of the country.
