Which example best identifies a birthright citizen of the United States?
A. a migrant who is a lawful permanent resident of the U.S.
B. a child born in the U.S. to undocumented parents
C. a person who was born in another country to citizens of that country, but who has lived continuously in the U.S. for more than 5 years.
D. a child born in another country to a permanent resident of that country.
B. a child born in the U.S. to undocumented parents
The best example of a birthright citizen of the United States is option B: a child born in the U.S. to undocumented parents.
The best option that identifies a birthright citizen of the United States is B. a child born in the U.S. to undocumented parents.
Explanation:
To determine the answer, let's analyze each option:
A. a migrant who is a lawful permanent resident of the U.S.: A lawful permanent resident is an immigrant who has been granted authorization to live and work in the U.S., but they are not birthright citizens. Therefore, option A is incorrect.
B. a child born in the U.S. to undocumented parents: The 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution grants birthright citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil, regardless of their parents' immigration status. Therefore, a child born in the U.S. to undocumented parents would be a birthright citizen. Hence, option B is correct.
C. a person who was born in another country to citizens of that country but has lived continuously in the U.S. for more than 5 years: This option describes an individual born outside the U.S. to citizens of another country who has lived in the U.S. for more than 5 years. While this person may be eligible for permanent residency or naturalization, they are not birthright citizens. Therefore, option C is incorrect.
D. a child born in another country to a permanent resident of that country: This option describes an individual born in another country to a permanent resident of that country, not the U.S. While this person could be a citizen or have legal residency in that country, they are not birthright citizens of the United States. Thus, option D is incorrect.
In conclusion, the best answer that identifies a birthright citizen of the United States is B. a child born in the U.S. to undocumented parents.