PARENT Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 2337

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Immigration

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-03-25: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Last Updated

2025-11-20T09:06:56Z

AI-Generated Summary

Summary of H.R. 2337: Prohibiting Automatic Rights to Enter National Territory Act of 2025 (PARENT Act of 2025)

Purpose

This bill aims to clarify and limit birthright citizenship under U.S. law. Birthright citizenship refers to the automatic granting of U.S. citizenship to most people born on U.S. soil. The legislation seeks to restrict this to children born to at least one U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (a non-citizen with legal permission to live and work permanently in the U.S., often called a green card holder).

Key Provisions

• Amendment to the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA): Adds a new subsection (j) to Section 101 of the INA (8 U.S.C. 1101), which defines the phrase "subject to the jurisdiction thereof" from the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Under this definition, for citizenship purposes, a person born in the U.S. must have at least one parent who is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident at the time of birth.
• Effective Date: The changes apply only to individuals born after the bill's enactment into law.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Narrowing of Birthright Citizenship: Current law, based on the 14th Amendment's Citizenship Clause, grants citizenship to nearly all persons born in the U.S., regardless of their parents' immigration status (with narrow exceptions, such as children of foreign diplomats). This bill introduces a parental status requirement, excluding automatic citizenship for children of non-citizen, non-permanent resident parents, such as undocumented immigrants or those on temporary visas.
• No Retroactive Effect: The amendment does not affect the citizenship status of anyone born before the law takes effect.

Potential Impacts

• On Citizens and Families: Children born in the U.S. to parents without citizenship or permanent residency would no longer automatically become citizens, potentially leading to statelessness (lack of citizenship in any country) or reliance on other immigration pathways for legal status. This could affect family unity and access to benefits like education and healthcare.
• On Government Agencies: Agencies like U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Department of State would need to update processes for verifying citizenship at birth, including birth certificate reviews and parental status checks, increasing administrative workload.
• On International Relations: The change could strain relations with countries whose nationals are affected, as it might complicate consular services for non-citizen children and raise concerns about human rights obligations under international law.
• Broader Effects: May reduce incentives for unauthorized immigration by limiting citizenship benefits passed to future generations, but could also increase long-term immigration enforcement costs.

Main Stakeholders

• U.S. Citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents: Their children born in the U.S. would retain automatic citizenship, with no change to their rights.
• Undocumented Immigrants and Temporary Visa Holders: Their U.S.-born children would lose automatic citizenship, affecting family immigration options and daily life.
• Children Born in the U.S. After Enactment: Directly impacted, as their citizenship would depend on parental status rather than birthplace alone.
• Immigration Agencies and Courts: Responsible for implementing and interpreting the new rules, potentially facing increased caseloads.
• Advocacy Groups: Organizations focused on immigration rights, civil liberties, and children's welfare, who may support or oppose the changes.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Constitutional Questions: The bill interprets the 14th Amendment's phrase "subject to the jurisdiction thereof" more narrowly than longstanding Supreme Court precedents (e.g., United States v. Wong Kim Ark, 1898, which affirmed broad birthright citizenship). This could invite legal challenges claiming the law unconstitutionally restricts citizenship rights.
• Legal Precedents: May require courts to revisit or clarify constitutional interpretations, potentially leading to litigation in federal courts.
• Political Context: As an amendment to federal immigration law, it reflects ongoing debates over immigration policy. If enacted, it could polarize public opinion and influence future legislation on borders and nationality, but its passage would depend on congressional approval and possible presidential action.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Mills, Cory [R-FL-7]

Cosponsors (2)

Rep. Harris, Andy [R-MD-1], Rep. Brecheen, Josh [R-OK-2]

Recent Actions

• 2025-03-25: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
• 2025-03-25: Introduced in House
• 2025-03-25: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Prohibiting Automatic Rights to Enter National Territory Act of 2025 — issued 2025-03-25 — PDF (2 pages)