Who Can Be Born an American? Trump Wants New Rules.
If you are born in America, you become an American citizen right away. This rule started long ago, almost 160 years ago. President Trump wants to change this rule. He doesn't want the children of people who visit America or live there without papers to become citizens.
Many Americans agree with Trump's idea. When people asked Americans what they think, more people supported Trump's plan than went against it.
Not many countries give citizenship to babies just because they were born there. Only about 30 do this, and most of them are in North and South America. In other places, like Asia and Europe, children become citizens only if their parents are citizens.
Some countries have changed their rules about this. India used to make any baby born there a citizen, but they changed their minds because lots of people were coming from other places to have babies there. Ireland made the same change when they found out people were having babies there just to become part of Europe.
Trump tried to change the rule by himself, but judges said he can't do that. Five women who are going to have babies soon went to a judge and said Trump's plan would hurt their children. The judge agreed with them.
Important people who know about American laws say Trump needs more than just his own decision to change this rule. They believe only special courts can decide if Trump's idea follows America's most important laws. Right, both sides will have to wait and see what the courts decide.
The people who work with Trump say the old rule only talks about people who live in America forever. Other people think the rule should help everyone who lives in America, even if they don't have the right papers. This fight shows how hard it can be to change important rules about who becomes an American citizen.
If you are born in America, you become an American citizen right away. This rule started long ago, almost 160 years ago. President Trump wants to change this rule. He doesn't want the children of people who visit America or live there without papers to become citizens.
Many Americans agree with Trump's idea. When people asked Americans what they think, more people supported Trump's plan than went against it.
Not many countries give citizenship to babies just because they were born there. Only about 30 do this, and most of them are in North and South America. In other places, like Asia and Europe, children become citizens only if their parents are citizens.
Some countries have changed their rules about this. India used to make any baby born there a citizen, but they changed their minds because lots of people were coming from other places to have babies there. Ireland made the same change when they found out people were having babies there just to become part of Europe.
Trump tried to change the rule by himself, but judges said he can't do that. Five women who are going to have babies soon went to a judge and said Trump's plan would hurt their children. The judge agreed with them.
Important people who know about American laws say Trump needs more than just his own decision to change this rule. They believe only special courts can decide if Trump's idea follows America's most important laws. Right, both sides will have to wait and see what the courts decide.
The people who work with Trump say the old rule only talks about people who live in America forever. Other people think the rule should help everyone who lives in America, even if they don't have the right papers. This fight shows how hard it can be to change important rules about who becomes an American citizen.
