Graham Statement on Supreme Court's Decision to Uphold Birthright Citizenship

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made this statement on the U.S. Supreme Court's 5-4 decision in Trump v. Barbara upholding birthright citizenship.

"For years, I have been pushing legislation and a constitutional amendment to change the United States' policy on birthright citizenship. While I'm disappointed in the Court's decision regarding birthright citizenship, I am determined more than ever to put an end to this major magnet for illegal immigration and birth tourism.

"The United States is one of a handful of countries that allows foreign nationals, regardless of their parents' legal status, to obtain citizenship simply by virtue of being born on its soil. There are entire industries that cater to families, including those from adversarial nations like China, who come to the U.S. with the sole intention of having their child born here so they automatically become an American citizen because they were born on U.S. soil. Birthright tourism is offensive to me, and it is offensive to the concept of American citizenship.

"There should be two pathways to citizenship - one, under the 14^th Amendment, to 'All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof' and two, via naturalization. I disagree with the Supreme Court that children of illegal aliens and aliens only in the U.S. temporarily are 'subject to the jurisdiction' of the United States.

"I will continue to push to fix this major pull factor for birth tourism and illegal immigration into the U.S. This would align America with the vast majority of the modern world. When I am chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee next year, I will make this one of my top priorities."

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