hold on there's just too much going on in Congress lmao...
Proposes constitutional amendment to change who gets US citizenship by birth.
Senator Paul (R-KY)
In committee, no Senate vote yet
This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to redefine who is considered a U.S. citizen at birth. Currently, anyone born in the U.S. is generally a citizen. This amendment would change that to require at least one parent to be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or certain military personnel. The bill was introduced by Senator Rand Paul, a Republican from Kentucky, and has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee for review.
Introduced Apr 29, 2026
The bill was introduced in the Senate by Senator Rand Paul and has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Before it could become law, it would need to pass both the Senate and the House of Representatives by a two-thirds vote, and then be ratified by three-fourths of the states' legislatures within seven years of its submission for ratification.
If this amendment passes, being born in the U.S. would no longer automatically grant citizenship to every individual. Instead, a child would only be considered a U.S. citizen if at least one parent is a U.S. citizen or national, a lawful permanent resident, or an alien with lawful status serving in the Armed Forces. This means that if you are born in the U.S. but your parents do not meet these specific criteria, you would not automatically become a U.S. citizen under the proposed change.
Supporters Say
Supporters argue this change would clarify the 14th Amendment and prevent children of non-citizens from automatically gaining citizenship.
Critics Say
Critics argue that such a change is discriminatory, creates a class of individuals without citizenship, and could face constitutional challenges.
Proponents of this type of amendment often suggest it is necessary to interpret the 14th Amendment's citizenship clause more narrowly, believing it was not intended to grant citizenship to every person born in the U.S. regardless of their parents' legal status. Opponents typically argue that the current interpretation of birthright citizenship is a foundational principle that avoids creating a complex legal underclass and that changing it would contradict established legal precedent.