The debate over birthright citizenship, enshrined in the 14th Amendment, remains a significant topic in the U.S. identity discourse.

Birthright citizenship has long been considered a settled issue in the United States. It became the law of the land in 1868 with the 14th Amendment to the Constitution that guaranteed citizenship, due process and equal protection to anyone born in the US. Originally designed to ensure citizenship for slaves brought from Africa, its application was extended to Chinese and other groups in the aftermath of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. It was further solidified by the case that Wong Kim Ark...