The Trump Administration Is Limiting The Citizenship Rights Of Children Of Recently Naturalized Citizens Serving Abroad In The US Military
Yesterday news broke that President Trump is changing a rule regarding citizenship for the children of recently naturalized citizens serving abroad in the US military. It is expected this change will “only” impact maybe 100 children each year.
According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Policy Alert PA-2019-05, this change is based on the difference between “residence” and “physical presence”. The two are explained to be different, and they are. However, when it comes to determining citizenship, this difference should be absolutely irrelevant. We are talking about naturalized citizens and their children, who should be citizens by virtue of being born to citizens. Whether their parent was a naturalized citizen or not, their parent is a citizen.
This rule change effectively makes recently naturalized citizens in some cases effectively second class citizens. Their citizenship is effectively worth less, and has fewer rights and privileges of other citizens.
Looking at changing laws and rules, and potentially the 14th Amendment, to address birth right citizenship in cases of illegal immigrant “anchor babies” or birth tourism may well be legitimate and worthwhile, but that would affect those who are not the children of citizens. This change would affect the children of citizens, who are only physically outside the borders of the US because they are serving in the US military. They are penalized for the service of their parents.
This rule change is an absolute travesty, and it should be overturned. The United States should not have second class citizens. A petition to the government to overturn this decision has been started and can be found here.
Garrett Leeds is the founder of the Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness Project
