From the Immigration Policy Center

August 2, 2010

Washington D.C. –The Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution is enshrined in U.S. history as the cornerstone of American civil rights, ensuring due process and equal protection under the law to all persons. Equally important is the Fourteenth Amendment's affirmation that all persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to its jurisdiction are, in fact, U.S. citizens – regardless their parents' citizenship.

Over the years, however, several bills have been introduced that would deny U.S. citizenship to children whose parents are in the U.S. illegally or on temporary visas. As restrictionist groups and legislators continue in their attempts to restrict or repeal birthright citizenship in State Houses and the U.S. Congress, it's important to remember that ending birthright citizenship would be unconstitutional, impractical, expensive, complicated and would not stop illegal immigration.

The American Immigration Council's Immigration Policy Center (IPC) has developed a range of resources which present a strong case for maintaining and celebrating our tradition of birthright citizenship – a tradition which is intimately tied to our heritage of civil rights.

To read IPC's resources on birthright citizenship, see:

• Defending the Fourteenth Amendment (IPC Resource Page, August 2, 2010)