Immigration Policy

Birthright citizenship refers to the concept that individuals born within the United States or an area subject to its jurisdiction are granted automatic citizenship. Birthright citizenship may be acquired through one of two ways:

1. by being born within the United States or its territories
2. by being born to U.S. citizens elsewhere in the world

The legal origins of birthright citizenship are rooted in the Citizenship Clause of the Amendment XIV, United States Constitution. This clause was interpreted in 1898 by the United States Supreme Court to mean that citizenship could not be denied to any person born in the United States. To learn more, see this article.

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Learn about the Public Policy Project on Ballotpedia.

Welcome to the Immigration Policy Project, where you will find information about immigration in the United States. Our coverage includes articles on the concepts, agencies, groups, and legislation that inform immigration policy debates. In addition, we cover immigration at the state-level, providing profiles on the state of immigration in each of the 50 states.