American Citizenship Is Not for Sale

Dear Gloria,

American citizenship is one of the greatest privileges in the world. It should never be treated as a commodity to be bought, sold, or exploited through loopholes in our Constitution.

That is why I was deeply disappointed by the recent Supreme Court decision allowing the abuse of birthright citizenship to continue. Rather than providing clarity on one of the most consequential constitutional questions facing our nation, the courts have allowed a broken system to persist, one that encourages illegal immigration and fuels the growing industry of birth tourism.

The Fourteenth Amendment was ratified after the Civil War to guarantee citizenship for formerly enslaved Americans. It was never intended to reward illegal immigration or create a market where foreign nationals can purchase “birth packages” to secure American citizenship for their children. The Constitution’s requirement that individuals be “subject to the jurisdiction” of the United States has meaning, and Congress has a responsibility to restore its original intent.

Recent events in Texas make this issue impossible to ignore.

Last week, Mission Regional Medical Center in South Texas came under scrutiny after advertisements surfaced promoting “Birth Packages in South Texas” starting at just $3,950. These packages were reportedly marketed to foreign nationals, raising serious concerns that our healthcare system was being used to facilitate birth tourism.

Governor Greg Abbott responded by directing the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to investigate the hospital and pursue any appropriate civil or criminal enforcement.

Unfortunately, this was not an isolated incident. Just weeks earlier, investigative reporting uncovered a birth tourism operation in Houston that catered to Chinese nationals and allegedly helped facilitate the births of more than 1,000 babies whose parents sought to exploit the Fourteenth Amendment.

President Trump has said it plainly: “American citizenship is not for sale.” I couldn’t agree more.

That is exactly why I introduced the Birthright Citizenship Act.

My legislation clarifies that automatic birthright citizenship should apply only to children born in the United States with at least one parent who is:

• A United States citizen or national;
• A lawful permanent resident; or
• An individual lawfully serving our nation in the Armed Forces.

This commonsense legislation restores the original meaning of the Fourteenth Amendment’s Citizenship Clause while protecting the integrity and value of American citizenship. It also codifies President Trump’s executive action on birthright citizenship and closes loopholes that have long incentivized illegal immigration and birth tourism.

In light of the court’s recent decision, the Birthright Citizenship Act is more important than ever. If Congress fails to act, we will continue encouraging illegal immigration, undermining the rule of law, and cheapening one of the greatest privileges in the world: United States citizenship.

Congress cannot stand by while our nation’s sovereignty is eroded. I will continue fighting to secure our border, restore the original meaning of the Constitution, and ensure that American citizenship remains meaningful, protected, and reserved for those the Fourteenth Amendment was intended to recognize.

As always, it is an honor to represent you in Congress.