Critics of birthright citizenship say it’s a fraud issue. Is it? : NPR

Key Points:

• Republican lawmakers at a Senate subcommittee hearing argued that birthright citizenship is not only a constitutional issue but also involves concerns about fraud, such as birth tourism, and national security risks related to foreign governments exploiting citizenship laws.
• Birth tourism involves foreigners traveling to the U.S. to give birth and obtain citizenship for their children, with some businesses charging large sums for these services; however, critics argue the problem is relatively small and can be addressed through existing immigration laws without altering the 14th Amendment.
• The Supreme Court is set to hear a case challenging the constitutionality of President Trump's executive order that aims to end birthright citizenship for children born to parents in the U.S. illegally or temporarily, which would overturn over a century of legal precedent.
• National security concerns cited by some Republicans involve fears that children born in the U.S. could be raised abroad and used as operatives by foreign governments like China or Russia, though experts and immigration analysts say there is no direct evidence supporting this scenario.
• The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, previously cited as a birth tourism hotspot, has seen significant reductions in tourist births due to tightened security measures, and local officials warn that outdated claims harm the territory's tourism-dependent economy.