The Supreme Court is weighing a decision on President Donald Trump’s executive order to deny citizenship to children born to parents who are in the country illegally or temporarily.
The decades-old immigration policy Trump is targeting is known as birthright citizenship, and it is enshrined in the Constitution. “All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States,” the 14th Amendment states.
The right was enshrined after the Civil War, in part to ensure that former slaves would be citizens.
But how common is birthright citizenship around the world?
President Donald Trump on Wednesday posted that the U.S. is “the only Country in the World STUPID enough to allow ‘Birthright’ Citizenship!”
Trump is not correct, but the practice is also not widespread.
Over 30 countries, nearly all of them in the Americas, offer birthright citizenship unconditionally. They include Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina.
Most countries around the world follow the “right of blood” principle, meaning a child’s citizenship is based on the citizenship of their parents. That includes all 27 member states of the European Union.
The Supreme Court’s decision is expected by the end of June. Several justices seemed skeptical of the Trump administration’s points during oral arguments.
U.S. Solicitor General D. John Sauer, who was representing the administration, told the justices on Wednesday that most countries do not grant automatic birthright citizenship.
“It demeans the priceless and profound gift of American citizenship,” Sauer said. “It operates as a powerful pull factor for illegal immigration and rewards illegal aliens who not only violate the immigration laws but also jump in front of those who follow the rules.”
The Supreme Court’s decision could have implications for millions of people.
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