
The United States recorded close to 400,000 births to noncitizen parents in 2024, a number that has reignited the national conversation about birthright citizenship. According to the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), approximately 300,000 of these births were to illegal immigrants, while an additional 72,000 involved foreign nationals on temporary visas.
These children, often referred to as “anchor babies,” are granted automatic U.S. citizenship under the current interpretation of the 14th Amendment. Critics argue that this policy not only undermines immigration law but also incentivizes illegal entry into the country by creating a legal pathway for families to remain permanently.
Report: 400,000 Anchor Babies Born in the U.S. in 2024 https://t.co/eNFx8vZRX6
— Jim Brown (@Esther4_12) January 4, 2025
President Donald Trump has committed to addressing this issue in his upcoming term. During his campaign, Trump vowed to sign an executive order ending the automatic granting of citizenship to children born to individuals without lawful residency. “On day one of my new term, I will act to stop this misuse of our system,” Trump said, calling the policy a loophole that must be closed.
If you want another legal immigration scam, here you go. 400k "anchor babies" were born to non-US citizens in 2024 alone. When an anchor baby reaches adulthood, they are allowed to sponsor their parents and foreign relatives for green cards, anchoring yet more non-US citizens. pic.twitter.com/0BBF7YjJFf
— RAW EGG NATIONALIST (@Babygravy9) January 4, 2025
This is the history and purpose of birthright citizenship and why President-elect Trump is correct that it does not apply to the children of illegal aliens. pic.twitter.com/WGGwKXc445
— Heritage Foundation (@Heritage) January 3, 2025
The Citizenship Clause of the 14th Amendment has never been definitively interpreted by the Supreme Court in the context of children born to illegal immigrants. Many legal scholars argue that the clause does not apply to children of parents who are not fully subject to U.S. jurisdiction, as was intended when the amendment was ratified.
If the mom and dad are not American citizens, anchor babies belong to the country in which the parents belong to
— Rosie Ferguson (@RosieFergu87542) January 4, 2025
Illegal aliens taking over America ONE baby at a time.
Analysis: Nearly 400K Anchor Babies Born in 2024 https://t.co/qkBCW5hPd6 via @BreitbartNews— BigTex2024 (@DennisWayne4591) January 4, 2025
2024: 1,100 anchor babies born every day in US ~ https://t.co/EYSDZ4UrmW
— MikeKirby (@mikekirbyone) January 4, 2025
The United States is one of the few developed nations that provides unrestricted birthright citizenship. Most countries, including France, Ireland, and Australia, require at least one parent to hold citizenship for a child to automatically receive the same status. The disparity has fueled calls for the U.S. to adopt stricter policies that align with global norms.
No more “anchor babies.” NONE. https://t.co/fp26Fouhmf
— Hawkaboo (@Hawkabooboo) January 4, 2025
Public opinion appears to support reform, with polling showing that a significant portion of Americans agree with Trump’s plan. As the U.S. continues to grapple with nearly 400,000 births to noncitizen parents each year, the debate over birthright citizenship remains a pressing issue in immigration policy discussions.