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House Republicans Push Bill to Restrict Birthright Citizenship Starting February 19, 2025

Jan 25, 2025, 02:20 PM

House Republicans, led by Representative Brian Babin, have introduced the Birthright Citizenship Act of 2025, aimed at codifying President Donald Trump’s executive order to restrict birthright citizenship. The proposed legislation seeks to amend the 14th Amendment's interpretation, limiting automatic citizenship to children born in the U.S. only if at least one parent is a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or lawful immigrant serving in the military. The bill, which would apply to children born after February 19, 2025, addresses concerns about misuse of birthright citizenship, including by temporary visa holders and through practices like chain migration. Trump’s executive order, which similarly restricts birthright citizenship, has faced legal challenges and was temporarily blocked by federal judge John Coughenour, who deemed it unconstitutional. The legislation is expected to face significant legal and political hurdles, with critics arguing it contradicts the Constitution’s clear language and Supreme Court precedent set in Wong Kim Ark. Advocates of the bill contend it restores the original intent of the 14th Amendment, while opponents warn it could create a subclass of stateless children and undermine longstanding legal precedents.