Rand Paul proposes amendment to end birthright citizenship for illegal immigrants in the U.S.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) introduced an amendment to alter the 14th Amendment's birthright citizenship clause, proposing that only children born in the U.S. to parents who are citizens, legal permanent residents, or lawful military personnel should automatically receive citizenship. His proposal aligns with President Donald Trump's executive order challenging current interpretations of the 14th Amendment, which grants citizenship to all children born on U.S. soil regardless of parents' immigration status. The issue is currently before the Supreme Court, with Paul asserting that the original intent of the 14th Amendment does not support automatic citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants.
- ▪Sen. Rand Paul proposed a constitutional amendment to limit birthright citizenship to children born in the U.S. to parents who are citizens, legal permanent residents, or lawful military personnel.
- ▪The proposal responds to President Trump’s 2025 executive order challenging birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants and visa holders.
- ▪The 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868, grants citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S. and subject to its jurisdiction, a clause historically interpreted to include children born to undocumented immigrants.
- ▪Paul argues that current interpretations of the 14th Amendment contradict the original intent of its framers and has previously supported similar legislation, including the Birthright Citizenship Act of 2011.
- ▪The legality of restricting birthright citizenship is under review by the Supreme Court, with oral arguments held in April 2025.
- ▪Paul emphasized support for legal immigration while advocating for stricter citizenship rules to prevent perceived exploitation of U.S. border policies.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) proposed an amendment on Thursday to “protect United States citizenship” and end birthright citizenship automatically granted to citizens born in the country as stipulated in the 14th Amendment. “A person born in the United States may only be considered ‘subject to the jurisdiction of the United States’ if the person is born in the United States of parents, one of whom is — 1) a citizen or national of the United States; 2) an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States whose residence is in the United States; or 3) an alien with lawful status under the immigration laws performing active service in the Armed Forces,” read Paul’s proposed amendment.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Washington Examiner.
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