Birthright citizenship fight shows US identity debate is far from settled

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...

By James V. Wertsch