A new and potentially irreversible law in the United States is being developed which would significantly change the long-standing rule of birthright citizenship for children born to Pakistani and other foreign nationals on US soil.
A US Senator has introduced a constitutional amendment aimed at ending automatic citizenship for anyone born in the country, arguing that the current interpretation of the 14th Amendment has been misapplied.
Under the existing system, children born in the United States are granted citizenship regardless of their parents’ immigration status.
He said this provision was never intended to cover cases involving illegal immigration and claimed the system has been “exploited” due to overly open borders.
While adding that legal immigration should continue to be protected, he said the US must tighten its citizenship rules.
He also pointed to President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, saying enforcement efforts at the border have already been strengthened but further steps are needed.
The senator added that he has supported restricting birthright citizenship for years, ever since his earlier co-sponsorship of related legislation in 2011. His new proposal is designed as a constitutional amendment, which he says would safeguard US citizenship laws even if the Supreme Court does not act in line with his interpretation.
The move is expected to reignite a major political and legal debate in the United States over immigration, and perhaps in overseas-talent-pool-generating countries like Pakistan as well.
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