American Citizenship Act

Birthright Citizenship Clarification Commission Act of 2025

To restrict birthright citizenship to children of U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, thereby removing the incentive for illegal immigration by ensuring that children born in the United States to parents who are not lawfully present do not automatically become citizens.

Bipartisan rationale: Honors Democratic priorities by preserving the current interpretation of birthright citizenship under the Fourteenth Amendment and avoiding any statutory change that would risk constitutional challenge or immediate denial of citizenship to children born in the United States. Honors Republican priorities by formally studying the constitutional foundation of birthright citizenship, acknowledging concerns about illegal immigration incentives, and providing a pathway to a constitutional amendment if the Commission finds it warranted, thereby respecting the amendment process rather than unilateral statutory action.

Vote-count path: ~260 House votes: 150 Democrats + 110 Republicans (centrists and those favoring a constitutional amendment process over statutory change); ~60 Senate votes: 48 Democrats + 12 Republicans (from the oversight-minded caucus).