Michael Savage, the conservative author and radio host, argued on his nationally syndicated program that birthright citizenship creates a loophole allowing children born in the United States to sponsor family members for immigration, stating, “a baby here becomes an instant citizen, and then they bring the entire family in from China or India or some other hellhole on the planet.” His remarks were made during a segment discussing proposed changes to immigration policy and were cited by several conservative media outlets as part of an ongoing debate over the interpretation of the 14th Amendment. The comments come amid renewed legislative and judicial scrutiny of birthright citizenship, with multiple state attorneys general filing amicus briefs in support of efforts to restrict automatic citizenship for children of non-citizens and undocumented immigrants. Legal scholars note that while the Supreme Court has upheld birthright citizenship in cases such as United States v. Wong Kim Ark (1898), recent challenges have focused on whether the phrase “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” excludes children born to parents in the country illegally or on temporary visas. No federal legislation to amend or repeal birthright citizenship has passed Congress, and executive attempts to alter the policy via executive order have been blocked by federal courts. The Department of Justice has not issued a new legal opinion on the matter since the Biden administration took office, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services continues to process applications for citizenship based on birth in the United States under existing guidance. Advocacy groups on both sides of the issue have increased public outreach, with organizations such as the Immigration Reform Law Institute advocating for a narrow reading of the 14th Amendment, while the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Immigration Law Center maintain that any change would require a constitutional amendment and risk creating a stateless underclass. Congressional hearings on immigration reform have included testimony on birthright citizenship, but no bill targeting the policy has advanced beyond committee in the current session. The Senate Judiciary Committee has not scheduled a vote on any related measure, and the House Immigration Subcommittee has not held a dedicated hearing on the topic since 2022. The debate remains unresolved, with no immediate legislative or judicial action pending that would alter the current interpretation of birthright citizenship under federal law.
Michael Savage Warns Birthright Citizenship Creates Loophole for Family Chain Migration from China, India, and “Hellhole” Countries
