Senator Tom Cotton Introduces Bill to End Birthright Citizenship for Children of Undocumented Immigrants

Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) has introduced the Constitutional Citizenship Clarification Act, legislation that aims to end birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to illegal immigrants, foreign terrorists, and foreign spies by amending the Immigration and Nationality Act. Cotton argues that the current interpretation of birthright citizenship has exacerbated illegal immigration and asserts there is no constitutional right for illegal aliens to gain citizenship for their children. The bill aligns with President Donald Trump's America First agenda, which has sought to end birthright citizenship through executive order, although a federal judge recently blocked the implementation of Trump's order. Critics raise concerns that efforts to restrict birthright citizenship could lead to a slippery slope, potentially stripping rights from naturalized citizens and beyond, with historical parallels to past exclusions of marginalized groups. The debate has intensified following a Supreme Court decision lifting a nationwide injunction on an executive order targeting citizenship for children of undocumented parents, sparking legal and social alarms. This legislative move follows estimates that about 225,000 to 250,000 children born to illegal immigrant parents were granted citizenship in 2023, accounting for roughly seven percent of all U.S. births that year.