What is birthright citizenship and how do Americans feel about it? : NPR

Key Points:

• The Supreme Court will hear arguments on whether all children born in the U.S. should automatically receive citizenship, a practice established by the 14th Amendment in 1868 and challenged by the Trump administration.
• Birthright citizenship (jus soli) is uncommon globally, with about three dozen countries, mostly in the Western Hemisphere, offering it; many others have moved to citizenship based on lineage (jus sanguinis).
• Public opinion on birthright citizenship is divided, with strong support for children born to U.S.-born or legally immigrated parents, but much less support for children born to parents who immigrated illegally.
• Polls reveal significant partisan, racial, age, and media consumption divides, with Democrats, younger people, Latinos, and Black Americans generally supporting birthright citizenship, while many Republicans, especially white Republicans and older individuals, oppose it.
• The debate is influenced by constitutional interpretations, with the Trump administration arguing the 14th Amendment’s clause is outdated and abused, while many Americans remain unaware or divided on the constitutional basis of birthright citizenship.