Birthright Citizenship

Recently, President Trump said, “We’re the only country in the world where a person comes in and has a baby, and the baby is essentially a citizen of the United States … with all of those benefits,” Essentially saying that the U.S. is the only nation that grants birthright citizenship. In reality, how many nations grant birthright citizenship?

NPR

1. How accurate was your prediction?

2. How accurate was the president’s prediction?

3. Based on the map, What is the big story on worldwide birthright citizenship?

4. Why do you think the president said something that is demonstrably and easily proven to be false.

5. Why does the U.S. grant birthright citizenship?

6. Where in the U.S. Constitution is the basis for birthright citizenship?

7. Can the president use an executive order to eliminate birthright citizenship which is guaranteed by the Constitution?

8. What would be actual constitutional methods the government or the American people could use to eliminate birthright citizenship?

9. If we suddenly rescinded birthright citizenship retroactively, what would immediately happen to the number of undocumented aliens in the U.S.?

10. Explain whether you think that we should end the practice of jus soli, birthright citizenship?

11. List the actual countries that allow birthright citizenship:

12. Share your opinion: Take our Birthright Citizenship survey.

Learning Extension

Read the 14th Amendment. It wont’ take too long.

Action Extension

Contact the President, ask him about his comment on birthright citizenship, share the actual information about birthright citizenship, and share your opinion on whether we should abolish birthright citizenship.