News

Ending Birthright Citizenship Does Not Require Constitutional Amendment

By Daniel M

October 17, 2019

Acting United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Ken Cuccinelli says there is no Constitutional Amendment needed to end the nation’s birthright citizenship, whereby millions of illegal aliens have been able to secure their U.S.-born children American citizenship.

During the Christian Science Monitor‘s breakfast with Cuccinelli, the acting director said he does not believe that an amendment to the Constitution is necessary for the U.S. to end its birthright citizenship policy.

“I do not, at least I have a belief on it, that I do not believe you need an amendment to the Constitution,” Cuccinelli said. “I think the question is ‘Do you need congressional action or can the executive act on their own?’”

To date, the U.S. Supreme Court has never explicitly ruled that the U.S.-born children of illegal aliens must be granted automatic American citizenship, and a number of legal scholars dispute the idea.