On June 30, the Supreme Court upheld birthright citizenship and struck down President Trump’s executive order to revoke the right by a 6-3 vote. In an opinion delivered by Chief Justice John Roberts and supported by a majority of five justices, it was affirmed that the 14th Amendment, adopted after the Civil War, will continue to grant citizenship to almost anyone born in the US.
"The Framers of the Fourteenth Amendment extended that promise to ‘every free-born person in this land.’ We keep that promise today," Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the Court.
Birthright citizenship is quite a rare privilege in the world—only 33 countries and two territories offer it. But what is it? Birthright citizenship refers to the granting of citizenship by the policy of Jus Soli, a French term meaning "right of soil." Despite its rarity, many people have benefited from the right, regardless of the parent in question's citizenship or residency status in a particular place.
Amidst the debates, this gallery explores the origins of birthright citizenship in the United States. Click through to find out more.