birthright citizenship

[ burth-rahyt sit-uh-zuhn-ship ]

noun

1. the practice of automatically granting citizenship to a child born in a particular country, regardless of the citizenship status of the parent or parents:

   an end to birthright citizenship.

2. the state of having such citizenship:

   to grant birthright citizenship to the child of new immigrants.

Word History and Origins

Origin of birthright citizenship¹

First recorded in 1845–50

Example Sentences

He has pledged an executive order but birthright citizenship is explicitly guaranteed by the US Constitution, meaning it can only be altered under specific circumstances.

From BBC

Another day one promise was to end birthright citizenship - the 150-year-old principle that says anyone born on US soil is an American citizen.

From BBC

Trump, on the other hand, has vowed to deport every illegal immigrant, no matter the cost, while his immigration consigliere, Santa Monica native Stephen Miller, has previously explored banning birthright citizenship and deporting immigrants for their activism.

From Los Angeles Times

In an interview with the conservative law professor Josh Blackman published on Monday, Ho sketched out his excuse to repudiate birthright citizenship by framing immigrants who lack permanent legal status as “invading aliens” whose children born on U.S. soil may be denied citizenship by states and the federal government.

From Slate

There’s just that one problem: On birthright citizenship, Ho has consistently bucked Trumpist orthodoxy.

From Slate